5 things I’ve learned as a first-time manager

In February 2021, I became a manager for the first time in my life. To say that it’s been a unique experience is an understatement. I’ve learned more in the past 8 months than I have in a decade of work. Here are my key takeaways thus far:

5. Politeness goes a long way

I’ve had my share of rude managers in the past and it was extremely demoralizing and demotivating. There’s absolutely no excuse for being rude, particularly in a professional setting. Have feedback to share with a team member? Great, be polite but assertive. Most importantly, make sure it’s constructive.?

First-timer tip: Never say you don’t “like” a deliverable without backing it up with concrete evidence along with guidance on how to improve it.?

4. Balancing the day-to-day with the long term ain’t easy

Getting bogged down in day-to-day responsibilities can really derail you if you let it. Soon enough, you could find yourself losing sight of the big picture and the long-term plans that will really create impact in your organization. It’s an intricate balance – keeping the machine going while never taking your foot off the pedal.?

First-timer tip: Create a long-term strategy (with specific goals) that you can refer to in times of doubt.?

3. Decision making is tough

Sure I’ve had to make decisions in the past, but the big stuff? That’s new to me. I was so used to being told what to work on, and having someone to fall back on, that having to decide for myself what deserves to be prioritized (and what doesn’t) has been an interesting challenge. First-timer tip: Look past the noise and follow your gut.

2. Detaching is easier said than done

Even going on holiday, I’ve found myself unable to fully detach. This was never the case in the past because I always knew my manager had everything covered. But being in charge of a department creates a special kind of responsibility.?

First-timer tip: Prepare your team well before you go on leave. Equip them with everything they need and plan out their schedules in detail. Also, trust them.

1. You’ll get attached to your team. A lot.

I can’t tell you how attached I’ve become to my team. Their failures are my failures, and their wins are my wins. This creates a powerful bond and a concrete emotional investment built on shared effort and after-hour bonding.?

First-timer tip: Get together with your team outside of work and show interest in their personal lives. When you show that you care and begin forging meaningful relationships, the work improves.?

As I said above, I’ve only been a manager for 8 months. But the experience has been eye-opening, challenging, and enormously satisfying. What lessons have you learned over your years (or months) of managing? I’d love to know.?

Read more by Nadim:

• Living with anxiety
• Unemployed? Here are 5 ways to make the most of it
• Writing saved my life

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