The Ultimate Guide for First-Time Managers Congratulations... you're in charge! Now what?

Leaping from individual contributor to manager is a significant milestone in one's career. At the same time, this transition into the unknown can be exciting or even scary. After all, unlike the thrill of individual success, you're leading a team. Other people rely on you. It can feel like being thrown into the deep end of a pool without knowing how to swim.

So, are you preparing for your leap into management for the first time? Ready to dive in? Here's everything you need to stay afloat and navigate the waters of leadership like a pro.

Related: What Makes a Great Leader vs. a Great Manager? Here's Why You Need to Understand the Difference.

Understanding your new role

Understanding the scope of your new role is the first step to becoming an effective manager. As a manager, you have to have a totally different focus. Rather than delivering individual tasks, you're orchestrating them. That means your main goals should be centered on people. For example, some of these include:

• Setting goals and objectives. Research shows employees thrive when aligned with clear goals. By setting team objectives that align with organizational goals, you create a more engaged workforce and drive better performance.
• Building and maintaining relationships. Fostering trust and collaboration is essential. Activities like outings and workshops can create positive work environments and improve relationships.
• Delegating tasks. Effective delegation empowers team members, boosts morale, and increases efficiency.
• Providing feedback and coaching. Regular feedback helps identify strengths and areas for improvement and aligns individual efforts with team goals.
• Making important decisions. When the stakes are high, it's easy to get paralyzed by decisions. However, managers need to be decisive. Making a decision, implementing it, and moving forward are all steps in the right direction.

Developing your management style

As you move into a management position, you will have the chance to develop your own leadership style. Experiment with different approaches until you find what works for you and your team. To be effective, though, your management style needs to be authentic.

Below are a few examples of common management styles to try out:

• Authoritative: In this style, expectations are set clearly and decisions are made independently. For quick decisions, it's useful. But, it can also stifle creativity.
• Democratic: Team input and collaboration are encouraged with this style. It is, however, time-consuming.
• Laissez-faire: With this style, team members have minimal guidance and can work independently. Teams with high levels of expertise can benefit from this process. Keep in mind, though, it requires careful management.
• Transformational: This management philosophy encourages employees to improve a company's future by innovating and developing new ways. This empowers employees to ask questions, think critically, and make decisions. Leaders and employees can burn out, however, from high expectations and constant communication.

Whatever leadership style you choose, it's important to adjust it according to the situation and the people you manage.

Related: How to Improve as a Leader by Optimizing Your Management Style

Building trust and credibility

Gaining your team's trust is paramount. Even though that's often challenging in general, it's especially hard when you're promoted. Relationships inevitably change when you're a manager, especially if you're leading former colleagues. Set clear expectations, talk to your team early on, and acknowledge the change. You'll avoid misunderstandings if you communicate openly.

In addition, you can build your team's trust and rapport by:

• Being transparent. Open and honest communication fosters trust and collaboration.
• Actively listening. Showing genuine interest in your team's perspectives builds trust and respect.
• Avoiding micromanaging. Empower your team by trusting them to make their own decisions.
• Acknowledging mistakes. Errors become learning opportunities when you show vulnerability. It also encourages employees to take risks and innovate when leaders show vulnerability.
• Don't be too quick to make promises. In the beginning, you might feel the need to make major changes. However, don't overcommit. If you fail to fulfill your promises, your credibility can be damaged.

Developing your team

Challenging your team and supporting their growth is one of your primary responsibilities as a manager. To achieve this, they need to be provided with the tools, resources and support they need. Here are a few tips to do just that:

• Provide regular feedback. Create a culture of growth by offering and receiving constructive feedback. Establish a time and place for these discussions, ensuring they are regular and predictable. Make feedback sessions a two-way street where team members feel comfortable sharing their perspectives. This allows both managers and employees to grow together.
• Offering coaching and mentoring opportunities. This can be achieved by providing one-on-one coaching sessions where you help team members set goals and create actionable plans. Mentoring can involve pairing less experienced employees with more seasoned colleagues, facilitating knowledge transfer and career development.
• Be a guide, not just an instructor. Encourage critical thinking by asking questions rather than providing all the answers.
• Delegate challenging tasks. You can foster ownership and growth in your team by trusting them with new and challenging responsibilities. Moreover, team members can grow and learn in this environment.
• Celebrating successes. You can motivate your team by recognizing and rewarding their achievements, like giving them a shoutout at meetings.

Overcoming common challenges

It is common for first-time managers to face unique challenges. Here are some tips on navigating them:

• Managing former peers. Be fair to everyone, set clear boundaries and keep communication open.
• Handling difficult conversations. Don't discuss the issue until you've thought it through. During the conversation, remain empathetic but direct. After that, focus on finding a solution.
• Resolving conflicts. There will always be conflict at work. As a manager, you need to address conflict promptly and effectively. Disagreements need to be handled fairly and promptly to keep a harmonious team.
• Balancing authority and approachability. Be confident and supportive while keeping an open line of communication.
• Mastering time management. As a manager, your time will be in high demand. For this reason, time management is essential in balancing your various responsibilities. Prioritize tasks, delegate, and use time management tools to manage your time effectively.

Related: 5 Essential Tips on How to Be a Great Manager

Schedule time for self-care

Stress is a part of being a manager. That's why taking care of your mental and physical health is important. In fact, according to Microsoft's Work Trend Index, published in September 2022, more than half of managers (53%) say they're burnt out.

The following are some ways to practice self-care:

• Prioritize work-life balance. Set clear boundaries between work and personal time, ensuring you and your team have dedicated periods for rest and rejuvenation. Encourage flexible work arrangements and model a balanced lifestyle to create a supportive environment that values both productivity and well-being.
• Practice stress management. Try relaxation techniques like meditation, breathing exercises or yoga.
• Exercise. Take part in regular physical activity.
• Sleep. Make sleep a priority. Ideally, that's around 8-10 hours per night.
• Establish a support network. Establish a strong network of friends, family and mentors for advice and support.

Embracing the challenge

First-time managers face a lot of challenges, but also a lot of rewards. By learning the nuances of your new role, building strong relationships, and developing essential skills, you will be able to navigate this new terrain with confidence.

It is important to remember that every challenge is an opportunity for growth. If you embrace the journey, you'll undoubtedly be successful and respected.