Posted

When someone gets into a leadership position for the first time, it can be quite thrilling for them and those around them.

However, the transition can be awkward, particularly if they end up overseeing former co-workers. Below are 10 tips to ensure your new supervisor successfully navigates this unfamiliar terrain while avoiding mistakes that can impede team productivity and cohesiveness.

10 Leadership Tips

1) It’s Not a Race

An inexperienced manager may want to make an immediate impact; however, it is crucial for a new supervisor to deliberate and get input from their employees before making significant changes.

2) Encourage Professionalism

New supervisors have to stop being a team member and start being a leader. This transition can be awkward, especially if there’s a feeling that one or more former co-workers are getting preferential treatment. Let your new supervisor know they ought to leave personal feelings at the door and treat everyone fairly.

3) Show Them How to Delegate

Someone new to management might find it difficult to delegate tasks in a way that best uses each team member’s unique abilities. Talk with your new supervisor about the individual talents on their team and how to delegate tasks based on these talents.

4) Discourage Micromanagement

Feeling anxious, a new supervisor may constantly be pestering their employees for progress reports on their job duties. An excellent approach to battling micromanagement is to help the new supervisor to set clear goals and progress metrics that get rid of the desire for frequent check-ins.

5) Coach Up Your New Manager

It’s your responsibility to ensure your new manager is getting the coaching he or she needs. Keep your finger on the pulse of their performance and their team’s dynamic. Have coaching conversations and share your insights.

6) Clarify their Role

Talk to your new manager about the specifics of their role, especially where their responsibilities begin and end. Lay out modest expectations with the idea of possibly expanding them later.

7) Make Them Do Their Homework

When someone works in a non-managerial role for years, it’s common for them to get extremely focused on just the scope of their job. Because a manager must have a much broader view, have your new manager revisit company policies and practices.

8) Explain the Difference Between ‘Equal’ and ‘Fair’

A common pitfall for new managers is to reward everyone equally when things go well and reprimand equally when something goes wrong. Your new manager should understand that a better approach is to treat employees fairly, by rewarding individual extra effort and reprimanding only those whose actions called for it.

9) Keep an Open Door

Obviously, your new manager isn’t going to have all the answers right away. Keeping an open door and letting your new manager know they can come to you for help will help them to learn as they go.

10) Keep an Open Mind

If your new manager was promoted into the position, you are probably used to them being great at their job. However, that won’t be the case right away in their new role. You need to remember that and give them room to fail.

We Can Help You Find Your Next Great Manager

At Cornerstone, we specialize in connecting our clients to top managerial talent. Please contact us today to find out how we can find your next company leader.


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *