12 Essential Moves to Rock Your Role as a New Manager

Feeling anxious and overwhelmed being a first-time manager? Well, it's all justified. After all, the role of a manager brings a whole new set of responsibilities and expectations. For instance, as a manager, your performance and success don't depend on how much work you do but on how much you get done from your team. 

However, we've got you covered. This blog is a comprehensive guide for new managers to facilitate a smooth transition to the role. From embracing communication and collaboration to confidently leading your team and building relations, it shares 12 proven strategies that'll equip you with actionable steps to navigate your role successfully. 

Include These Practical Strategies in your New Manager Checklist and Succeed as a Manager 

1. Find a Calm Spot And Declutter Your Mind 

You're bound to be overwhelmed with the new challenges and responsibilities associated with your role. However, you can counter the stress this brings by finding a calm spot and clearing your mind. You can then reflect on your learnings, identify areas that need improvement, and seek support if required. It's also during this time you must prioritize your tasks and organize your routine. 

2. Understand How the Company Works 

If you're being promoted within your organization, you can skip this pointer. However, for new managers, it is best to learn more about the company they're joining, its core values, goals, and expectations. This will help you align your values and goals with those of the company. 

Also, you must go through the company policies and guidelines to avoid any misunderstanding in the future. 

3. Talk to your New Team and Determine what they Expect 

You'll be working with your team all along. Therefore, it's essential to talk to them and learn about their expectations. They can be about anything from achieving work-life balance to meeting professional objectives. Along with learning about their expectations, share your new manager's expectations too. This will clear any misconceptions in your team from day-one .

4. Look for a Mentor 

Seeking out a mentor can be extremely helpful for new managers. A mentor can offer you deep insights into the organization's expectations and culture and help you feel more comfortable. 

 Pro Tip: Ideally, your mentor should be in a managerial position with decent experience working in the organization you're joining. You can also check with the new organization if they have new manager training programs. 

 5. Be Proactive About Asking Questions 

Make sure you're proactively asking questions during your first week as a new manager. Doing this will help you clear your doubts, gather more information about the organization, and show your team how invested you are and that you genuinely care. 

Here are some tips you can follow:   

• Ask stupid questions if you have to. 
• Ask open-ended questions and spark conversations. 
• Listen to what your team has to say carefully. 
• Ask follow-up questions to ensure you got it right. 
• Make decisions based on what you gathered or learned. 

6. Set Achievable Goals for the First 30 Days as a New Manager 

New managers must set both short-term and long-term goals. This will help you focus your efforts and prioritize the things you want to achieve. Here's what you should keep in mind while setting goals for the first 30 days as a new manager:   

• Start by focusing on the bigger picture and creating mini goals to climb the ladder slowly. 
• Make sure your goals are achievable, time-bound, specific, and measurable. 
• Your goals should align with your team's and your company's objectives. 
• Tweak your goals based on your progress.   

7. Confidence is Key 

New managers are expected to lead with confidence. When you're confident, you can lead your team better, inspire them, and portray yourself as a credible leader. To lead with confidence, you must:

• Set goals and achieve them. 
• Use analytics to make data-driven decisions. 
• Invest in learning and seek feedback. 
• Learn from your mistakes and improve. 

 8. Build a Genuine Relationship with your Team 

A superficial introduction to your team won't take you far as a manager. To succeed in the long run, you must build a genuine professional relationship with your team. And you can do that by: 

• Scheduling one-on-one meetings with your team members. This will help you get more familiar with them and vice versa. The interactions don't always have to be professional. You can also crack a few jokes to make them more comfortable. 
• Actively listening to your team. It's essential you let your team members finish before you speak anything. This will show you value their input and you're listening. 
• Organizing a team lunch or other team-building exercises. 

9. Encourage Communication and Collaboration 

Good managers promote communication and collaboration as it helps create a harmonious and productive work environment. 

To foster communication, you can lead by example. Demonstrate open communication by being transparent with your team members and approachable. Encourage your team to share their ideas openly without the fear of being judged. 

 If your team is too big, you can opt for smart employee engagement solutions such as Amber. Amber is an AI-based employee engagement platform that communicates with your team just like you would. It also helps detect any signs of employee disengagement, giving you an upper hand in dealing with the issue before anything worse happens.

 For collaboration, you can leverage productivity tools wherein your team and you can engage, discuss, and share files virtually.  

10. Integrate a Feedback Culture Right from Day One 

A feedback culture is paramount if you wish to grow and achieve more. Right from day one, you must be open to positive and negative feedback and ask the same from your team too. This will help both you and your team members evolve and become better over time. 

 11. Create an Inclusive Team Culture and Promote Recognition 

In your first week as a new manager, you must create an all-inclusive team culture where everyone feels respected, valued, and included. You can make this clear by hosting team meetings, allowing everyone to provide inputs, and respecting their views regardless of where they come from, what position they have, etc. 

 In addition to an inclusive culture, you must promote recognition. Recognizing your team even for the smallest efforts can take your leadership journey a long way. It makes the employees feel happy, which further motivates them to achieve more. 

 12. Stay in Regular Contact with your Stakeholders 

It's crucial for managers to connect with their stakeholders. Doing this helps determine if you're on the same page and working toward the same objectives. This way, you can re-align your goals if required. 

Moreover, staying in touch improves your relationship with the stakeholders and might lead to future collaborations. So, set up a call or physical meetup with the stakeholders every month or 15 days, whatever seems fit. 

Wrapping Up 

In a nutshell, mastering your role as a new manager requires a combination of a proactive mindset and effective strategies. By following the 12 proven strategies outlined in this blog, you can confidently navigate the challenges of transitioning into a managerial position.  

From embracing communication and collaboration to setting achievable goals and building genuine relationships, each strategy plays a crucial role in your journey as a new manager. Always remember to lead confidently, seek guidance from mentors, and create a culture of open feedback and communication. 

So, implement the strategies listed in this blog, embrace the opportunities and challenges of being a new manager, and strive for continuous growth and development.