If you’ve just been promoted to be manager of a business, either internally or externally, congratulations! You’ve just taken a huge step up the career ladder; enjoy the view from the top and reflect on a proud achievement.
But before you get stuck in, equip yourself with as much knowledge as possible. You’ve made it this far, so why not ensure you have everything you need to be the best version of yourself from the get-go?
Here are six tips to ensure you enjoy success in this new role.
Listen to your staff. Have you ever heard the saying, “employees don’t leave companies, they leave managers”? Your first duty should be getting to know your employees and putting their needs first. Even if you’re already familiar with your team, becoming their manager can significantly change your relationship.
A recent poll discovered that more than two in five British employees have quit a job because of a bad manager, citing respecting and listening to staff and treating people well as the most important attributes of a good boss. Keep this firmly in mind as you navigate your new responsibilities!
Never stop learning. As a manager, you’re bound to have a lot of knowledge, but that doesn’t mean you know everything. You should never stop learning – about your business, industry and competitors – and always be open to absorbing new information.
In a similar way, you should encourage your employees to push themselves and expand their skill set by getting involved in different training courses and seminars. This increases your chances of being a great new manager, and also aids team development.
Learn how to prioritise. In this new position, you may feel obliged to tackle everything at once to make a quick impression. Here’s some helpful advice; don’t bother! Step back, take a deep breath, and prioritise your tasks and responsibilities. You are not a superhero, and nobody expects you to be.
Keep in mind that there’s a difference between a task that’s ‘urgent’ and a task that’s ‘important’; start by listing your tasks in order of importance and address them one by one, delegating where necessary.
Lead by example. Nobody likes a hypocrite, especially when the hypocrite is supposed to be managing. To keep employee morale, productivity, and loyalty at a high level, you should be everything you expect your staff to be.
Lead by example and watch your team flourish under your command. By demonstrating your own devotion and reliability, you’ll build trust with your staff which should motivate them to shine.
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Build (genuine) relationships. Not only does building relationships with your staff, clients, and stakeholders drive better results for the business, but it also creates a more enjoyable working environment for everyone. To strengthen your relationships with those around you, you need to be genuine, ensure you’re really listening instead of just hearing, and focus on understanding as opposed to just responding.
Arranging regular one-to-one interactions will help achieve stronger relationships with each individual. They could be informal catch-ups over coffee or structured meetings in your office, whatever works best.
Set realistic goals with clear plans. To quote Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” As a new manager, you probably have all these exciting ideas to introduce, but how do you bring these ideas to fruition? To be successful, you need (realistic) goals with a plan on how to reach each one.
Don’t be afraid to consult others before launching into a new process; your decisions as a manager impact the wider team, not just yourself. Plus, opinions and assistance from your employees should fill them with a sense of importance and help them feel valued.
The Journey Has Only Just Begun
This is your time to shine! Becoming a manager can be daunting, but clearly someone thinks you’re worth it, so take that as a positive.
Be open to the advice and guidance on offer as it’ll help increase your chances of success and, in turn, enjoy your role. We wish you the very best of luck!