Getting promoted from employee to manager or senior executive is both exciting as well as challenging. Adopting a managerial mindset can be overwhelming. This article explores five to-dos as a first-time manager. From leadership development to new skills like resilience against obstacles, clarity in communication, and the mindset of a CEO, you can face your new role with authenticity and confidence.
Table of Contents
1. Sign up for a coaching program.
If you recently got promoted to a managerial role, the best thing is to enroll in an executive leadership coaching program. Executive or leadership coaching plays a critical role in one-on-one development. Essentially, executive coaching provides the much-needed support for people transitioning into managerial positions within an organization.
As a business manager, you’re liable for making certain strategic decisions and setting the course of your organization. No matter your level of experience, a good coach or mentor can help you define your mindset and methodologies as a leader, develop new skills, and understand best practices in executive leadership. By being a motivated, invested coachee, your time with a great coach can transform a good-enough business into a truly great company. In fact, the right coach might even take that peak performance beyond the boardroom—you may very well start approaching your personal life in new ways, too.
Some organizations, like the Center for Creative Leadership or the International Coaching Federation (ICF) provide executive coaching services for business leaders via video, web, or phone platforms. As an educator, an executive coach takes on each coaching engagement to help company leaders thrive with competence and confidence. The bottom line is that an effective coach and a dedicated coaching process can help enhance your performance, even without years of experience in leadership roles.
2. Take management training courses.
Keep in mind that managers must be critical thinkers and experts in decision-making. Taking a management training course helps you understand the intricacies of the decision-making process. There are many courses available online and offline. For example, if you live in Texas or within that axis, you can search online for a suitable Project Management Professional (PMP) course offered by the project management institute in Houston. The PMP credential is globally acclaimed as the standard of professional excellence for business leaders. C-level executives at multinational organizations and small business owners alike can become better business people with the qualifications of both personal experience and coaching sessions or courses.
3. Develop good interpersonal skills.
Otherwise known as soft skills, interpersonal skills include good communication, a positive attitude, and active listening. Contrary to popular belief, you can hone interpersonal skills. The bottom line is that having good interpersonal skills promotes likability and approachability.
To reach your full potential, these soft skills are crucial. Learning and understand the specific behaviors and relationships that make up your company can ensure you reach your full professional potential. From behavioral psychology to individual coaching sessions, you can hone your soft skills and become a better leader.
4. Set realistic goals and stick to them.
Successful managers all over the world have mastered the art of goal setting. Try not to be wildly optimistic when setting goals. In contrast, set measured, meaningful goals and work towards exceeding them.
Setting measured goals doesn’t necessarily mean staying conservative and never setting high goals. The trick is in keeping your goals as realistic as possible. Furthermore, ensure every employee knows what is expected. It keeps them focused and poised to deliver positive business outcomes for the organization.
5. Learn to delegate responsibilities.
Doing everything yourself can get you overwhelmed and stressed out. As a manager, your job is to make efficient use of every resource available to you to increase your business’s bottom line, but you shouldn’t be wasting time balancing each individual account or micromanaging your project managers. A good rule of thumb is to start small. Assign simple tasks that, if done incorrectly, don’t require significant resources and time to fix.
Delegating responsibilities is an excellent way for employees to learn on the job. It helps you understand their strengths and weaknesses. Be open to provide the necessary assistance needed to carry out tasks assigned to them successfully. As your employees take on more responsibilities, assign them tasks that stretch them and enhance their skills. No matter the stage of their careers, you can find responsibilities that will be a good fit.
Any career transition will be challenging, but it’s all the more so when you’re taking on your first managerial role. Remember—your supervisors saw high potential in you, or they wouldn’t have promoted you to this position. By finding the right coach, embracing new skills, and otherwise becoming the best manager you can be, you’ll have a successful career ahead of you.
