CAREER TIPS - 3 things you must do as a first-time manager to be a great leader
Posted 22nd August 2023 • Written by NIKKI BARUA on fastcompany.com • • • • •
SHIFT YOUR MINDSET
Getting things done: Your successes as an individual contributor are the result of doing things well. But there is a difference between doing things well and getting things done well. First-time managers often feel like they need to do everything themselves to ensure positive outcomes. But failing to delegate leads to burnout and overwhelm while also preventing team members from growing. Shift your mindset to getting things done by empowering and developing your team.
Instilling an “always learning” culture: Adopt a growth mindset so you can take risks, learn from failure, and seek out feedback. To be an effective manager, you have to shift your mindset from “all-knowing” to “always learning.”
Nurturing relationships: It can be easy to focus too much on completing tasks and meeting deadlines and not enough on building relationships and supporting your teams. People don’t quit their jobs: They quit their managers. Shift your mindset to team empowerment over task management.
EXPAND YOUR SKILLSET
Communicating effectively: As a manager, you’re responsible for establishing priorities for your team. Jotting down a couple of priorities and sharing them in a meeting is not enough. When sharing assignments, honing your communication skills is critical.
Unlocking potential: Being a manager involves more than thinking about your own growth and success—but also unlocking the talent potential of your team. Get to know your team members and ask questions to understand what makes them tick. What drives them to succeed? What makes them feel fulfilled?
Establishing accountability: Handing over responsibility to someone else and assuming it’s no longer your problem is abdication, not delegation. Mastering accountability techniques is essential so you can avoid the pitfall of either not delegating enough or delegating too much. Establish accountability by:
BUILD YOUR TOOLSET
Coaching questions: Great leaders are great coaches. Resist the urge to answer every “how should I . . . ?” question, and instead lead with coaching questions to guide people to find their own solutions. Every time you find yourself wanting to jump in with the answer, remind yourself to WAIT (“Why Am I Talking”).
Ask questions like, “How do you think we should approach this problem? What is your instinct here? What do you think X client is going to ask next?”
Feedback loops: My mentor told me that everything I want is on the other side of an uncomfortable conversation. While it’s easier to avoid uncomfortable conversations, avoidance also prevents you from getting what you want and building stronger relationships. Establish 360 feedback loops so you can give and get candid feedback. Conduct 1-on-1 meetings with your team members and provide constructive feedback with specific examples.
Prioritizing wellbeing: I’ve shared a lot of steps here around considerations in working with others, but being a good manager involves prioritizing your own well-being, too. As a manager, you will be faced with balancing your own workload with the needs of your team and organization. To avoid overwhelm, learn how to manage your time by focusing on the right thing at the right time.
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