You're a new manager in an unfamiliar industry. How can you quickly gain the respect of your team?

Starting as a new manager in a field you're not familiar with can be challenging. One effective way to quickly gain your team's respect is by taking the time to understand the basics of the industry. You don't need to know everything right away, but showing that you're making an effort to learn is key. You can start by reading up on the subject, joining courses, attending industry events, or finding a mentor with experience. This effort will not only help you feel more confident but also show your team that you're serious about your role and eager to support them effectively.

The best way to earn respect is to prove your knowledge and willingness to impart it to your team members. A leader is someone who does not just tell someone to do something but one who shows how it is done. Genuine, transparent, and helpful manager is the one who is respected the most.

When you are the new kid in the block , be friendly and confident. Learn about the industry and typical jargons so you can follow along conversations and even add relevant inputs to build credibility. When you are new , be humble and seek help from peers and seniors and acknowledge their support. Be part of social events and actively network. Find opportunities where you can help others as well .

Since you are transiting into a new industry, the most important thing to give you a head start is to know the basics of the industry. Because while you will be using your transferable skills to manage this transition effectively, you will also need to have basic knowledge about the products, services and the nuances of the industry. You can also talk to retailers or vendors to understand how the industry operates.

In addition to industry knowledge, cultivating emotional intelligence and fostering strong communication skills are indispensable traits for effective leadership. Understanding and empathizing with your team members' perspectives, motivations, and emotions enables you to build trust, resolve conflicts, and foster a positive work environment conducive to collaboration and productivity. Furthermore, honing your ability to articulate vision, provide constructive feedback, and actively listen amplifies your influence and inspires alignment towards shared goals.

Ask for help. People really respond well to that. As you become more senior you’ll always have people reporting to you who know more than you on certain topics. Coming in admitting you don’t know everything and asking for help and feedback is powerful and they won’t forget it. A new boss took this approach with me many years ago and I never forgot it.

Saying your not fully familiar or an expert is the start. A leader is not there because they are domain experts. A leader is much beyond just 'knowing' . - Set up up small group meetings - Set up domain and functional related expert meetings so you understand the lay of the land so to say - Ask lot of questions on successes and failures and on aspirations too - Collect real time data/stories so you make your own meaning of it and join dots that others may not have. - Get guidance from peer and mentors from the new industry and belong in the new industry forums so you absorb

As a new manager in an unfamiliar industry, listening to your team and asking them questions is key to earning their respect. This approach shows you value their insights and experiences. It's about showing genuine interest in their views and understanding the challenges they face. This helps to create a sense of trust and encourages teamwork.

Beyond learning the basics of an industry your are unfamiliar with. Become a sponge. Talk to everyone in the organization, network in the industry at events and don't pretend you know anything that you don't. Observing and listening are the two best things you can do to become credible.

I recently heard of an organization that does not allow leaders in a new role to speak in meetings for 3 months after they have started their new job! I love this emphasis on listening! Listening is like a neglected panacea for success. It starts with my attitude: Thinking "I am the new leader and everyone please follow my lead" will not earn the trust needed to build meaningful relationships.

To quickly gain your team's respect, focus on identifying and using their strengths. Everyone has unique talents and abilities that they excel at. When you notice and appreciate these strengths, you let your team members know you see their value.

Sometimes what to do is less important than what not to do..... in this case too what not to do is extremely important... many times leaders join new industry and try to quickly bring transformation to prove their worth, but it is always better to first understand the industry with your team and recognize them fir their effort to help you in the process. When u are sure that the time to bring changes has come then first take your team in confidence and then act to bring changes, if results are good then recognize your team for the same. A leader is as good as his team and recognition brings mutual respect.

Recognizing and leveraging the strengths of your team members is indeed a powerful strategy. It not only boosts their motivation and performance but also fosters a culture of respect and inclusivity. As a leadership coach, I've seen how this approach can transform teams, driving them towards excellence and innovation. It's about empowering individuals to excel beyond boundaries, harnessing their unique talents for the collective success of the team.

Stepping into a new managerial role demands an understanding of your team's capabilities. 1. Individual Strength Assessments: Initiate one-on-one sessions to understand each team member's strengths. 2. Team Dynamics: Assess the collective strengths of your team. Identify how individual strengths complement each other to enhance the overall team performance. 3. Delegate Wisely: Assign tasks based on individual strengths. Align responsibilities with team members who excel in specific areas. 4. Continuous Feedback: Provide regular feedback on individual and team performance. 5. Professional Development: Encourage professional development opportunities that align with individual strengths.

Having a regular meeting with the team members to understand their strengths is an important step. Because as a leader you will need to build a team which compliments your areas of strengths and areas where you need to evolve. Assess who amongst the team members are good with product knowledge, market knowledge, domain expertise, have an influence in the marketplace of with stakeholders and accordingly respect their opinions and inputs. That way you build a positive inclusive work culture which motivates the team and they start looking up to you.

When you're new and leading a team, speaking clearly and with confidence helps a lot. It's not just about telling your team what to do; it's about sharing your vision and how you all will achieve your goals together. It's important to be honest and kind when you talk. Use easy words so everyone can understand, and avoid complicated terms that might confuse people.

identify the people on your team who know the industry really well - in public ask them to tutor you on the key aspects of the industry

Do not always refer to your previous industry or company. If you wish to gain respect for your experience, use it to understand the current situation, ask the right questions, and provide potential solutions that you experienced before.

As a leadership coach, I can't stress enough the importance of clear and confident communication. It's not just about conveying your vision or goals, but also about fostering an environment of trust and respect. Remember, communication is a two-way street. Encourage feedback and questions to ensure everyone is on the same page. This not only strengthens your team's cohesion but also empowers them to perform at their best.

Your confidence level in your own self and abilities is key. Because remember you have been hired in a different industry because of your abilities and because there is a different perspective that you will be getting into the system. The company would like to see a positive difference in results with your out of the box thinking because you come from a different background and experience. May be the team is not able to solve problems with their current exposure and they need a completely different perspective and that is where you play an important role. So feel proud of your abilities without coming across arrogant.

When you are a new entrant in an industry, try to be flexible and adaptable as much as possible. This gives you the ability to handle changes and new challenges with a positive attitude. You must understand that you don't have to have all the answers. Instead, show that you're willing to listen to feedback and try new things whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Admit you don’t know what you don’t know. Tell your team you may need to depend on them to help you as you ramp up on the specifics of the industry, and your willingness to lean, while sharing the value you bring to the role in terms of other skillsets.

Being flexible and adaptable is not just about adjusting to changing situations, it's about leading with purpose and vision. It's about harnessing technology and innovative mentorship to drive transformative change. It's about moving beyond the comfort zone, challenging complacency, and fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement. This is how leaders excel beyond boundaries and inspire their teams to do the same.

When you set your foot in a new industry, few things to do are: 1. Start with an immediate unlearning of things which were relevant to the previous industry. Just keep the jist. 2. Never make a mention of the successful things you had done in a previous industry. You will lose confidence of the current team faster. 3. Always prioritise customer visits. Customers will give unbiased information of the product/services along with that of the competition. 4. Absorb full knowledge of the product being sold, its pros and cons, pricing, competition, and where are our strengths. This info will always be a headstart for any conversation. 5. Understand the company hierarchy and approval methodology. 6. make an effort to know every nuance.

To win trust of the new team members, there is no replacement for you as a manager leader coming across as 'genuine' and 'authentic'. Be yourself the way you are. Adapting your approach to dealings and interactions is fine however do not lose your sense of identity. That way teams will start trusting you faster because you will build a rapport.

Being a new manager in an unfamiliar industry might feel overwhelming, but it's also a chance to bring fresh perspectives and innovations to your team. One way to quickly gain respect is to show genuine passion for learning about the industry and your team's work. Express your eagerness to understand the ins and outs, and don't shy away from asking for explanations or clarifications.

Authenticity + Integrity = Respect. Being new in an unfamiliar industry in a leadership position, responsible for others in a team can be quite overwhelming. The underlying rule to gain respect is to first give respect. Below are some practical actions that might help. > Be who you are, people can sense Authenticity from a mile. > Become a student and be willing to learn from everyone and anyone. > Be proactive and before joining learn as much as possible about the industry, the company and its culture. > Schedule meet ups with relevant people from the industry to get insights. > First few weeks be an observer, resist the need to provide answers. > Be genuinely interested in people. > Become OK with the idea of saying, "I don't know".

A new manager in an unfamiliar industry is becoming a norm, not an anomaly. In this shifting world, often, times our circumstances dictate who and what we show up as. -- Cultivate genuine curiosity and a learning mindset. -- We live in a world of heavily democratized knowledge, so take advantage of this access. -- Be willing to unlearn and start over.

Starting as a manager in a new industry was like exploring a place I'd never been. Just as we'd introduce self to neighbors, had 1:1 with my team getting to know their jobs & concerns. Learning industry's language was a bit like picking up a new way of talking. Also joined in on what team liked i.e kind of like sharing hobbies. Going to industry events was my way of attending local gatherings. Made small positive changes in team like rearranging things to make a space more comfortable or by giving credit for team achievements. In the end, earning the team's respect in a new industry was about becoming a part of their group. By being involved, understanding & valuing their efforts, I went from a new to a respected member of work community.