New to the Crew: Here’s What You Need to Know as a First-Time Manager

Bad managers are hard to forget.

If you’re preparing to be a manager yourself, you’ll want to know how to keep yourself from becoming a cautionary tale passed down the company from employee to employee.

Being a manager is a lot of work, but with the right direction you’ll be inspiring your team members instead of scaring them.

You’re going to be a successful manager. You just need a little instruction first.

Laying Down the Law

If you’re going to be a successful manager, you must set expectations. Communicating your goals will give everyone a clear idea of what you want and what they need to do to achieve your vision.

Be firm, but approachable. Be open to ideas, but keep your eyes on your goals. Set boundaries, but let your team know you’re open to small talk.

All of these are possible.

You’re going to have to hone your interpersonal skills. Being personable and having the ability to communicate effectively are the basis of a good manager. 

Lead By Example

You’ve likely heard the phrase, “Do as I say, not as I do.” Implementing this ideology into the workplace will likely get your team members to quickly turn on you.

Effective managers are leaders. It’s possible to get work done by delegating, and a large part of being a manager is assigning work, but you must also immerse yourself in the project to really know what’s going on.

At the same time, you need to give your team members direction without micromanaging. They need independence and you have to trust them to complete their part of a project.

Conflict Resolution

There are going to be disagreements and mistakes that need to be addressed. The key to resolving workplace conflicts is keeping calm, finding common ground, and understanding one another.

Giving constructive feedback is awkward at times, but will help your team recognize what they need to improve upon. You all want the same thing: success.

When Being a Manager Isn’t Enough

You’re not a robot. Even if you’ve been placed into a management position, you’re allowed to have a personality.

You don’t always have to have a strictly professional relationship with your employees. Personally knowing the members of your team can help you assign work that plays to their strengths.

Encourage your employees to voice their opinions. Having open conversations can lead to innovative ideas.

Be openly appreciative of your team members and they will return the favor.

When You Know How to Be a Great Manager

You’re going to manage your team in a way that is unique to you. Knowing your leadership style will help you figure out the best way to manage your team.

Being a great manager will make your team members great, too. You can mold your team into a collaborative, creative group that gives one another constructive feedback.

You might be nervous, but exude confidence! You wouldn’t have gotten the management position if you weren’t able to effectively manage.

If you need more instruction on being a manager, we frequently post new manager tips and other work-related articles to our blog!