Tips for New Managers
February 2, 2010F. John Reh, About.com’s Management Guide asked his pool of management professionals:
“Remember way back when – when you got your first management job. What do you wish someone had told you then? What would be the one tip you would give to a manager just starting out?”
This sparked discussion a long discussion, but Reh pulled together some of top tips offered by management pros:
1) Consult, Consult, Consult! A good manager should always be asking questions and getting feedback.
2) This ties in with tip # 1. Talk to your staff! For the first couple of days, sit down and get to know your staff. Find out what they do, what their goals are, what they like to do in their free time, etc.
3) Avoid re-inventing the wheel. Everything doesn’t require your unique hand-print. Some things probably work just fine already. Also don’t think or act like you know everything, nothing breeds resentment more than arrogance. You may be smart, but there’s always someone smarter.
4) You are responsible for everything that happens in your scope of authority. Don’t ever think that just because you may not be doing the actual work, you are not responsible—you *are*. Unless you are comfortable with this basic fact, management is *not* for you.
5) Defend your people! They will reward you with their loyalty.
You can read the whole article here. Want to participate in the discussion and give some of your own tips? Go here.