You're a new manager and you need to impress your team. What are the most important skills you need?

2 Delegate effectively and empower your team

As a new manager, you might be tempted to micromanage every aspect of your team's work, or to take on more tasks than you can handle. However, this can be counterproductive and demoralizing for both you and your team. Instead, you need to delegate effectively and empower your team to take ownership of their projects and responsibilities. To do this, you need to assess your team's strengths, weaknesses, and preferences, and assign tasks accordingly. You also need to provide them with the resources, guidance, and support they need, while giving them enough autonomy and flexibility to make their own decisions and solve problems creatively. By delegating effectively and empowering your team, you can boost their motivation, confidence, and performance.

3 Manage conflicts and expectations

As a new manager, you'll inevitably face some conflicts and challenges with your team, your peers, or your superiors. You need to be prepared to handle these situations with professionalism, tact, and respect. You need to manage conflicts by identifying the root causes, listening to different perspectives, finding common ground, and proposing solutions that benefit everyone involved. You also need to manage expectations by setting realistic and measurable goals, communicating progress and challenges, and delivering on your promises. By managing conflicts and expectations, you can reduce stress, improve relationships, and achieve better outcomes.

4 Recognize and reward your team

One of the best ways to impress your team is to recognize and reward their efforts and achievements. You need to show your team that you value their contributions, that you appreciate their hard work, and that you celebrate their successes. You need to recognize and reward your team in a timely, specific, and meaningful way, using both formal and informal methods. You can use formal methods such as performance reviews, bonuses, promotions, or awards, or informal methods such as public praise, thank-you notes, feedback sessions, or team outings. By recognizing and rewarding your team, you can increase their satisfaction, loyalty, and engagement.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?