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Your first management job is a big step forward in your career. Being put in a position to manage others is a great achievement, but it can be a lot of pressure. Management is not easy and requires key skills, such as communication and motivating. As the boss, you’re responsible for leading your team to success. If you want to be a great manager from day one, these tips will help you stay strong and thrive.
Be consistent
The best management is built on a foundation of consistency. Employers respond best when a manager is consistent with their decisions and work style. If you behave in a irregular manner, your employees will become disengaged. They might start to question whether they can count on your leadership. Consistent management isn’t about being rigid. You should be flexible but you need to maintain a level of cohesion to get the most out of your staff.
Focus on goals rather than details
As a first-time manager, you may be tempted to focus on the details of the work, instead of what needs to get done (the goal). The best managers focus on long-term goals and monitor their team’s performance in working towards these goals. You don’t want to fall into the trap of trying to control every task because you’ll end up becoming a micromanager. Your main concern should be how your team is going to reach the goal.
Incentivise work
It’s important you push your staff to make them perform at their best. You should reward your team for their work, but you need to manage incentives in a way that doesn’t create entitled employees. The key is to always make sure your employees are being challenged. This is one of the best ways to keep your staff motivated and engaged with their work. Your employees are less likely to become complacent if the work is challenging. It helps them grow as a professional and will benefit their career.
Establish trust with your employees
If you want to create an environment that is built on mutual respect and trust, you need to get to know your team. Schedule plenty of one-on-one meetings to discuss updates, answer questions and find opportunities to discover common ground. Also, show an interest in people’s lives outside of work. The communications should never be one-way. As a manager, you need to interact with people on a personal level to establish trust.
Delegate wisely
Delegation skills are a vital part of management. There will be times when you have to delegate tasks to other people. To delegate successfully, you need to articulate the desired outcome. You need to make sure the person who you’ve delegated work to understands the instructions. Focus on the results and what needs to be accomplished. Also, always provide recognition when its deserved.
To succeed as a first-time manager, you need to shift your mindset from the get-go. Being a manager is an ongoing learning experience. Your skills will improve over time, but if you make goals and set expectations, you’ll be off to a great start.
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