You’ve made it, and you’re proud of yourself. As you step into your first manager role, you’re also encountering impostor syndrome. Am I good enough? I’ve never led a team before. What if I fail? Sounds familiar? And you are right. Becoming a first-time manager is not an easy task, especially nowadays, as the expectation is not only to oversee day-to-day operations but also to do more than that.
In this new era of work, a manager needs to be able to build connections, possess emotional intelligence, master hybrid and flexible working arrangements, and stay up-to-date with the latest trends.
8 Must-Know Essentials for First-Time Managers
There’s a lot to learn for a first-time manager, which can sound overwhelming. Here is a guide for you, listing the essentials for your great opportunity to shine and manage your first managerial role. Let’s have a look at what is essential:
1. Know thyself – Emotional Intelligence
Before you lead others, you need to understand yourself first. What are your values, passions, strengths, and areas for growth? I always recommend conducting this self-analysis through a personal map, which provides an excellent framework for understanding your capabilities, communication style, and triggers.
- Listening is the number 1 skill you need to master. And when I say listening, I mean with your body and soul, being present in the moment.
- Give constructive feed forward
- Get to know your team, their ambitions, ideas, and thoughts. It’s best to have a one-on-one meeting to facilitate this understanding.
- Stay calm under pressure – breathing exercises do help to regulate your emotions, or other mindset hacks are also handy – you need some tips, reach out
Tip: Always take time to reflect on what went well and where you can improve further after each team meeting.
2. Clear and simple communication skills
Today’s employees do need context, need to understand the why behind each decision and instruction you will give:
- Be direct and use simple language, and at the same time, show empathy
- Repeat and summarize the key points from team meetings in writing. You can use AI for recording and scripting you’re meeting or any other tools.
- Ask open questions – a powerful modality for understanding challenges and identifying root causes. Open questions invite your team to come up with ideas and suggestions.
- Give a safe space for your employees, where they can share openly
3. Feed forward – the fuel for growth and fulfillment
Feedforward should be a continuous conversation and talk. First-time managers often shy away from giving feedforward, but your team needs that fuel to grow, to feel recognized, and empowered.
- Positive reinforcement: “I noticed how you handled that client call. Great job on staying calm.”
- Constructive feedback: “Next time, let’s try this approach. I’m here to support you.”
Pro tip: Ask for feedback, too. Show your team you’re growing with them.
4. Inclusion and Psychological Safety
It is imperative to provide such space and for your team to perform. This is a space where every idea is valued, everyone feels heard, and respect is the guiding principle.
How to foster inclusion?
- Again, it starts with listening and listening to the end without interruption
- Celebrate team members’ success, growth, and essential dates for them.
5. Decision Making in a fast-paced world
The speed of business has changed and is faster than ever. And sometimes, as a first-time Manager, you need to make a decision that might miss information.
- Gather input quickly but not endlessly – there is no such thing as perfectionism, and sometimes using your intuition is a great guide
- Have a deadline to decide
- Ask for different perspectives
Use the 70% rule, which states that if you have that percentage, it is safe to take action.
6. Leading remote and hybrid teams
Many teams are remote, spread around the world, and even if you are in the same city, employees do work from home quite frequently.
Set clear expectations about:
- Being present in the office
- Communication modalities
- Output or results vs office hours
The more precise you are with your message, the better. Check in with your team virtually to connect and not micromanage.
7. Managing up and across
Being a great Manager is not only about your team. It is also about managing your manager. You need to build a trusted relationship with your peers and skip-level managers across departments, countries, and functions.
- Keep your direct Manager informed with quick updates via email – bullet points are sufficient, summarising actions and what else needs to be communicated
- Ask for clarity if any priorities shift -you need to understand first before passing on the message
- Avoid silos. Stay in touch frequently with the various teams you work with and the teams your team collaborates with.
8. Personal Development Plan
Finally, you also need to prioritize your professional growth. You are not expected to know everything on day one; however, the key is to demonstrate that you are eager to learn and open to feed forward.
- Read newsletters and information from your organization
- Raise your hand for workshops and development opportunities
- Work with a coach or mentor
Final Nuggets
Being a first-time manager is an exciting journey. This is an excellent opportunity to shine in how you lead, not just in what you do. Be authentic, show your capabilities, and your eagerness to learn and grow with your team and yourself.
Your team does not need perfection, but they need presence.
First-time Manager?
Whether you are navigating tough conversations, leading a team for the first time, or building confidence in your role—I am here to guide you.