What to do on your first week as a manager
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Are you about to be a manager for the first time in your career? Oh, how exciting! You are transitioning from a team member to a leader. Your first week in the new role will set the tone for your managerial journey. You will also get to experience and express your management style through your actions. Here are some steps you can take to make this first week as a manager the best week of your management diary:
1. Observe and listen
You are about to enter totally new territory. Therefore, it is best to listen more and speak less in the first few days. Take the time to observe how your team moves together. You will get to understand the team dynamic and the overall office culture in this first week. Active listening will help you uncover the individual strengths of your team members, paving the way for effective leadership.
2. Establish open communication
Effective communication is something that you must establish as a leader. Set your expectations for open and transparent communication within the office. You should always encourage your team members to share their ideas and voice their concerns. An open dialog between management and employees will lead to a positive and productive work culture.
3. Build relationships
You still don’t know your new team members properly. This first week is the best time for you to make meaningful connections with them. You can schedule meetings with each of your team members during the first few days to identify their career goals. As a manager, you need to be aware of and supportive of their career advancement goals.
4. Set clear expectations
Whatever expectations you have of your team, you must voice them clearly within these first few days. Take the time to define the goals, objectives, and KPIs of your team. You must ensure that every team member is aware of these elements. Give everyone an understanding of their role and responsibility within the organization.
5. Learn from your team
You are still new, and probably don’t have all the answers. Acknowledge this fact upfront. As time goes on, you will learn a lot from your team members. Ensure that you take a collaborative approach toward leading your team to success.
6. Evaluate existing processes
Just because the office has done something the same way for the past few years, that doesn't mean that it is the best way of doing things. You can analyze the existing workflows and processes of your team. This will help you identify areas that need improving. If it takes a team member ten minutes to complete a task and twice as much time to run between the filing cabinet and their desk, you will have some serious automation to do.
7. Develop a professional development plan
As a leader, you must invest in the development of your team. When your team develops and grows professionally, so will the organization. Identify the weaknesses of each of your team members and devise individual development plans for them. It could be something as simple as taking an inline course or team building exercise, but it will help you a lot in the long run.
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