Congratulations! You’re now the Manager of a group at work.
What do I do now?
When the role you have in your career gives you the responsibility to manage other individuals, regardless of where on the organization chart this is, how have you been prepared for that role?
Odds are the first time you were promoted to manage other people you had success in a function. This may have been any area from Manufacturing, Product Development, IT, Sales, Finance or any of the many other areas.
Now you find yourself managing other people. Some of them worked right alongside you for a period of time. Now you are in the manager role having never had to manage other people before.
What experience do you have to draw on?
A friend or two suggest you find a book to help you out.
Ah, which book though?
An Amazon search on “Management” books returns 10,000 plus.
An Amazon search on “First Time Manager” books returns over 1,400.
It’s possible you’ll own the company or at least be the CEO by the time you read all of these books.
There’s a good chance that you will consider one of these three options:
- Fly by the feel of your instincts and do what feels right to you.
- Seek out a manager with some years of experience in the organization and ask for their advice. You both may use the term mentoring or not, however, essentially that’s what you’re seeking some guidance.
- Find someone you may know or be introduced to who will be able to coach you as you grow in your career path. Managing other people being one of the opportunities for growth along the advancing career path.
Here’s a list of my top five suggestions for any first time manager to zoom in on for their own and their team’s benefit. Remember it’s not just about something new and different for you. It’s going to be new and different for your team as well.
Top Five List To Focus On
- Discover your management style
- Time Management
- Communicate Clearly
- Listen To Your Team – Meet one-on-one often
- Find a Coach or a Mentor and work with them consistently not just when you’re in a bind.
Yes, there are certainly more items that could be added to this list. However, it’s my top five for you to have your start be manageable.
If you’re seeking out a book or two use each of these as sub-searches to locate advice on each of these topics.
Do the right things and you’ll do just fine.
Wenkroy International LLC is a Professional Advisory company with a main purpose of helping entrepreneurs and business people create the strategy, the plan and the steps necessary to achieve that person’s vision for their business and often their life, while navigating the obstacles which may be blocking them from reaching their goals. The process may involve one on one coaching, advising, laser focus days, personal growth workshops and more. The methods utilized are determined together. The results and value positively impact individuals, teams, divisions and across entire companies. People are now able to focus on what matters most to them, because, they have clarity on where they are heading.
As always share the information in this article with people you know.
