How to Succeed as a New Manager

When entering the role of a first time manager it is expected that there may be feelings of nervousness and fear of failure. However, these feelings are also expected and can easily be overcome once you have spent time in your new role as Manager. It also helps to gain a little perspective on the management role.

It's important as a manager that you exhibit personal interest in not only the success of the overall team, but in each and every employee who is reporting to you. This is important as it will show your employees you care about them as people, which will in turn allow them to feel more comfortable and trusting of you.

Passion is a very important quality for a manager. It proves that the manager enjoys what they are doing, and this passion is exemplified to the rest of the team. You need to be passionate about your team and the work you are doing. It's important for you to want the company and team to succeed, but also for each and every employee to succeed as well.

Your employees must be your first priority as you can make a difference in their careers. It is your job is to make their jobs as easy as possible. As a manager it is up to you to notice when your employees need something or when something isn't working. It is also important as a Manager that you are approachable and personable. This is because you may not always be there to notice everything immediately, so your employees need to feel comfortable coming to you.

Being a manager isn't just about managing, but it's also about sincerity and empathy. It's important as a manager that you ensure that all job requirements are met, but it is also important as a manager that should an employee have any sort of personal problem, that they understand that you are there to support them to the best of you ability through that as well. The team must always be your first priority as a manager, and it's important to know and expect that there will be unplanned interruptions or other challenges that may come up, but that you must continue to prioritize and ensure that the team continues to be your first and most important responsibility.

It is vital as a manager that you know how to lead. A leader is someone who sets an example for their team. It is crucial as a manager that you lead by example. You must set expectations for the team by following these same expectations yourself. A leader accepts responsibility for their actions and takes ownership of any mistakes that may have happened along the way. Leaders aren't afraid to make mistakes, but rather learn from those mistakes when they do happen. It is important that this concept is shared amongst the team. The first time a mistake happens it's not actually a mistake, but rather a learning experience. You can pick up and learn from it that first time, and learn how to prevent it from happening again. A leader sets goals and follows through on those goals. A leader also ensures that everyone understands these goals and the reasons behind them. A leader is what makes a successful manager, and it is important that as a manager your are constantly working to become a leader.

It will be your job to notice when someone isn't working to the greatest of their potential. It will also be your job to motivate each person on the team. Motivation is essential to a person's success and personal well-being. Everyone is different, and while some people are motivated by public recognition, others are motivated by a simple word from their manager. Most people appreciate being recognized for a job well done on a certain project, or in a meeting, and not only does that recognition make a person feel good in the moment, but it also stays there for their overall well-being and success in the job.

When you become a manager there are skills that you learn in your job to further enhance your career, however there are also personal characteristics that are just a part of who you are that also contribute to your success as a manager. Everyone has different personal traits will assist them in becoming a successful manager, such as being personable and approachable, strong listening skills, and being easy to talk to. Listening is essential as a manager because the truly good listeners also hear what isn't being said. They are able to understand what they are being told, but they are also able to read between the lines.

Although, being a Manager is important it doesn't make you any better than any other person in the company. Every person and position contributes to the overall success of the company and it is important that this respect is demonstrated daily. Patience is another quality that must be possessed. A manager can be thought of as a mentor or teacher by many, and the truly good managers pass their knowledge on. When asked a question, what do you do? Do you automatically give the person the answer because if so, how does the person learn? A great way is to work through the answer with them by prompting them for their opinion or what they think is right. Although, this may be the longer route it is also the route that allows the person to learn and gain confidence through the fact that they assisted in finding the answer.

Organizational skills are also very important. You need to be able to easily organize duties, projects and meetings, and prioritize which ones need to be accomplished first and which can be accomplished at a later date. Organizational skills will assist you in your time management.

It is very important that everything is kept confidential concerning yourself and any members of your team. Do not discuss anyone's problems or difficulties. This is between the Manager and the employee, and should not be shared amongst the team. This will ensure credibility. An employee needs to feel comfortable that should they have any difficulties or disciplinary problems that it will be kept confidential and not spoken about on the floor. In saying that, nothing that could be considered confidential should be coached back to the employee on the floor. This should all be done behind closed doors in a boardroom where it cannot be overheard and where both people can feel comfortable speaking about it. Disciplinary problems and procedural problems will come up, and it is not fair to an employee to discuss this openly on the floor with them. Not only will this allow other people to hear the problem, but it also opens up the gates for people to speak about it to others. This should not happen on any team and should always be a top priority to ensure that it never happens. Not only does this make someone feel self conscious, but it also de-motivates.

Just like other people, managers also run into difficulties or frustrations, however as a manager it is also important that the team isn't subjected to this. It is important that managers portray confidence because it in turn portrays confidence to the team. When there are moments or days where there are frustrations or difficulties it is critical that the agents are not the ones who are used as someone to talk to. These problems should always be dealt with through someone who holds an equal or higher position. It is important that this rule is followed because if it isn't then the manager could lose confidence and credibility in the eyes of their direct reports.

It is also important to think a decision through from all aspects before committing to an answer. These aren't just your answers to give. It affects the overall success of the team, individuals on the team, and the company. As a Manager, it would be essential to continue to think these decisions through for all parties involved, and not just your own personal feeling.

As a Manager you need to be prepared for the unexpected. There will never be a way for you to know every single issue that that will happen or occur. There will always be problems that come up that you haven't dealt with before or that others haven't dealt with before. It will be your job to figure out how to deal with these dilemmas. It's important to know that you can't plan for everything, but what you can do is prepare for the unexpected. This is what every good manager does. They know they can't plan for everything, but they figure out ways to ensure that when the unexpected does come up they know how to deal with it. Change occurs often in the workplace, and it is something that you can choose to handle well. Not everyone accepts change, or even tries to accept it.

The most important aspect regarding changes that are occurring is ensuring that everyone is kept informed on the further developments regarding these changes and the reasons behind it. A change can be scary when someone doesn't understand it, and the best way to eliminate this fear it to discuss it with each and every person that will be affected by it.

It's important to know as a new manager that you know that you will never know all the answers. You will have questions to ask, but if you are willing to learn and accept the challenges as learning opportunities than you are off to a great start. There are many characteristics, skills, and capabilities that people want to possess in the management role. Some of these you may have learned from managers that you have reported to, while others are personal goals that you will strive for. If you believe in yourself and your capabilities than you have what it takes to start as a brand new manager. Look forward to the challenges and embrace your new role.