Making the transition from individual contributor to manager isn’t always fluid. You’ll have slip-ups along the way. Managers don’t wake up suddenly one morning as an awesome leader. It’s a transformational process, and mistakes will happen.
One defining core characteristic of a manager is credibility. That means you are consistent in your words, behaviors, and in your actions. If not, you won’t be respected, believed or trusted, making it increasingly difficult be an effective manager.
Learning from our mistakes is important, but with a little awareness, we can decrease the incidents that can get us in trouble. Be aware of your behavior and be deliberate in choosing your actions.
Common Ways You Instantly Lose Credibility
1. Not Understanding That Your Previous Relationship with Your Co-Workers Has Changed
You’re no longer a peer. You’re in charge. You assign and manage the tasks. You analyze work performance and you conduct performance reviews. You can’t be everyone’s best friend. When you blur those lines too much, your leadership will be ineffective. Make objective and fair decisions as a boss, and not as a friend.
2. Not Dealing with Performance Issues Quickly
Get out in front of problems. If you wait, issues compound and may take on a life of its own by spinning out of control. When you deal with them early, they are easier to tackle.
3. Not Being Bold Enough to Make the Tough Calls
Make a decision and stand behind it, even if unpopular. Decisions and the logic behind decisions must be communicated and fully explained. Your team can accept decisions more readily when they understand the “whys” behind them.
4. You Take All Credit for Success
Now is not the time to be insecure. Give credit where credit is due. We live in an era of teamwork, especially in the age of the millennial. You will garner more success if your team produces results. The fastest path to success includes having an attitude of encouragement and appreciation and sharing that with your staff.
5. You Don’t Take the Blame When Things Go Wrong
The ultimate responsibility for your team falls firmly at your feet. Team failures will be seen as leadership failures and that’s a hard concept for the new manager to assume. You’ll have a great deal of responsibility heaped upon your shoulders as manager, but it’s part of the job. Look inward for your answers instead of casting blame. You’ll find a way to turn it into a success.
6. You Think a Title Equals Respect
A title does not generate respect. That’s earned. Barking out orders won’t get you far. Figuring out how to inspire your team to help you get things done is the way to go. This is particularly tricky if you are managing the same group you were previously working in prior to your promotion. Your team must evolve and change their perspective of you. It will be a learning process for all.
7. You Try to Change Everything in the First Week
Innovation and new ideas are great. The worst mentality of a leader is the “because that’s the way it’s always been done” syndrome. However, before you try to overhaul everything immediately take time to understand why things are done. There may be reasons that you don’t comprehend yet. Understand the process from a 360-degree view and then begin to introduce new ideas. And, don’t forget to ask for ideas from your staff.
8. You Think You Have to Know Everything
You don’t need to pretend that you are an expert on all matters. The most successful leaders excel because they know they can’t possibly know it all. Any gap in knowledge comes from the strengths of others. That’s how they build strong teams.
9. You Are Not Confident Enough to Provide Tough Feedback
Giving negative feedback is uncomfortable and you must learn to deliver feedback in a way that doesn’t sink morale. If poor performance isn’t addressed, the entire team will suffer. If you don’t address it, it doesn’t just disappear. Take a deep breath and have the hard conversations.
10. You Treat Everyone the Same
Treating employees fairly is not the same as treating employees equally. Yet we strive to foster an environment that is characterized by equal treatment. Unfortunately, that can turn into a one-size-fits-all approach. Your employees will have different needs, performance levels, traits, work styles, goals, and motivations. Treating everyone who works for you in the same manner is “ready-made” management and that’s not the best approach for your company or your team. Endeavor to understand what matters to each of your team members and be thoughtful in your approach to giving individual employees what they need.
Top Tips for a Successful Transition
The first rule is to ask for help! There’s no shame in that. It’s unreasonable to think you’ll be an expert when you’re new in the job. Here are a few tips to help you:
- Talk to your HR department and find out what training and support is available as you take on your new leadership role. If they don’t have anything in-house, there are numerous outside courses available for the new manager with little or no cost.
- Find a mentor. A mentor will be able to help you and guide you in the process. Remember, you’re doing something that millions of other people have done. Learn from those who have gone before. If you don’t have a mentor, seek out the opinions and expertise of other senior leaders in your organization.
- Make sure you know the big picture. Understand how your department fits into that picture so that you can identify your department’s goals and determine the resources needed to achieve them. This will give you a broader base of expertise and will help you raise your level of credibility more quickly.
- Becoming a new boss likely means that you’ll have a new boss. Know what expectations your manager has for you. Your goals should mesh with the goals of your staff so knowing those expectations are paramount.
- Learn to listen with the intent to comprehend and not with the intent to respond. Trust me, this is huge.
Your new role isn’t about being the most popular, it’s about leading others to achieve company results as well as leading your team to their individual successes. Give it your best every day and you’ll soon make the transformation successfully.
