5 THINGS ALL NEW MANAGERS NEED TO KNOW

It seems the business world is failing new managers.

A 2016 Grovo study found that 44% of new managers feel unprepared for their new role, and 87% wanted more training before they took the step to management. CEB found that 60% of new managers fail within the first 24 months. That’s huge.

In terms of business metrics, 60% failure is catastrophic. Yet nothing seems to change.

Companies pick their best performing individuals, and promote them to management. No consideration is paid to their leadership skills, it’s all about their individual performance – no wonder we’re in such a mess.

I remember feeling very lost when I first stepped up to management. There was so much I didn’t know, and so much I wish I had known. So, I’m going to take a look back at myself on the day I first stepped into management, and teach myself (and any other new managers out there) 5 key realisations that will help them, unlike the majority, succeed in their first 2 years.

#1 – EVERYTHING IS DIFFERENT

When you first come into work on that first day, everything will seem the same. You will probably be sitting in the same seat, with the same people around you, and the same projects on your desk – the only difference is you will have people reporting to you. This is an illusion.

Everything is different.

Now that you’re a manager, everything about your role has changed, and your mindset needs to change with it. This is more than a promotion or a new chapter, this is a new reality.

Forget everything you know about how you work, and embrace a new mindset altogether.

“What’s the new mindset?”

I’ll show you…

#2 – YOUR OUTPUT DOESN’T MATTER

You’ve got to this position because you produce top quality work all by yourself – well done. That doesn’t matter anymore.

The only thing that matters is the output of your team.

Your new role is to provide an environment where your team can produce their best work.

The more you focus on your output, and not theirs, the more stressed you will become and the less engaged they will be – this is a recipe for disaster.

This isn’t going to be easy, by the way. You’re going to need to accept that people do things slightly differently to you, and maybe at first, not as well. This is normal, and it’s your job to guide people and help them create their best work. Sometimes you will find, that then 'new way' people work is actually better than yours too.

This won’t go smoothly at first, so I need to tell you the next important lesson…

#3 – YOU’RE GOING TO MAKE LOADS OF MISTAKES

Mistakes happen, I know. But now, they’re going to happen a lot more. Not only are you going to make mistakes, your team are going to make mistakes too – mistakes multiplied. This is OK, get used to it.

One of my favourite Steve Jobs quotes, is when he was being challenged by an angry Apple employee.

He said “Mistakes will happen, and that’s a good thing! It means decisions are being made.”

Couldn’t agree more Steve… Mistake mean action is being taken. The worst thing you can do is come down really hard on someone for making a mistake. When you do this, you create a culture of inaction and paralysis. Of course, you can’t ignore mistakes, it’s worth discussing why they happen, but punishment is a bad choice.

Accept mistakes will happen, and make peace with it.

Now, there’s another thing you should know…

#4 – YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS

Life as a leader isn’t easy. You have to make decisions every single day, and some of them are tough. This could be to decide that one of your team isn’t up for the job, and changing their job role. Alternatively, it could be to let one of your team do something their way, even if you don’t think it’s the best way forward.

The important thing when making tough decisions is to do them in a timely fashion – don’t sit on them – and do them honestly and openly. Don’t try to skirt around an issue, and don’t try to spin it – you will lose trust.

Sometimes, making a really tough, and unpopular, decision can actually increase the trust and respect your team have in you. Trying to please all the time isn’t an option – sometimes decisions need to be made, and they’re not always easy.

Now, there’s one more thing… And this is the most important.

#5 – YOU MUST, AT ALL TIMES, LEAD BY EXAMPLE

If you do nothing else, you must do this.

It is 100% unacceptable to expect a certain performance and behaviour if you don’t live by it yourself.

If you want passion, be passionate.

If you want dedication, be dedicated.

If you want composure, don’t lose your sh*t! EVER! ??

You set the tone, and people will follow your example – it’s that simple.

WHAT NOW?

Well, if you’re a new manager, good luck. Try to remember these 5 things, and understand that leadership is a journey – you never reach your leadership summit. You will always be learning and developing, so learn to enjoy the journey as much as the destination.

If you’re a seasoned leader, then look out for your new managers. Be there for them. Don’t adopt the approach that ‘they need to learn from their own mistakes’ – you’re better than that! Help them out! Be the calming and guiding influence they need when they’re floundering in the sea of management. Remember, you were there once, and we both know it wasn’t easy.