FIRST-TIME MANAGER TIPS! (What to do in the FIRST 30 DAYS as a New Manager) Tips for NEW MANAGERS!

You are not there to make friends as a manager. While it is important to build positive working relationships with your team, and encourage a positive work environment, you are the person who is responsible for your teams performance.

As a new manager, you should set high standards from the very start. Workplace standards include making sure everyone adheres to company rules and procedures; everyone gets their work completed to the best of their ability and on time, and everyone treats each other with respect.

Set high standards from the start as a new manager, and you will find it far easier to achieve the company’s goals.

Now, while it is very important not to micromanage your team members, you should always be visible and available. What do I mean by this? Well, as a new manager, you should have your door open, talk to your team members regularly, ask them how they are feeling and check how their work is progressing.

Ask them if they are experiencing any challenges, and show them you care about the work they produce.

Do not make the mistake of hiding away as a new manager. Be visible, be available, and show your team you want them to be successful.

I had a manager many years ago who treated everyone differently. He had his favourites and certain individuals would get more opportunities than others.

Unsurprisingly, he was disliked by the majority of people in the team who were never given any opportunities. This created a negative work environment that he was totally unaware of.

As a new manager, always treat people in your team consistently. Never favour one person over another – be fair and consistent, and your team will definitely respect you!

Now, there will be times when you cannot inform your team about confidential situations that are going on with the organization.

However, where possible, I recommend keeping your team or department updated with the company’s goals and objectives. You should also ask your team for their input and ideas to ensure the business stays successful.

Just because you are a manager does not mean you can’t learn from the people in your team. Your team will be full of talented individuals, and if you involve them in the decision-making process when possible, and ask them for their ideas, they will feel valued, motivated, and a part of the journey.

The best teams have positive workplace values everyone strives to demonstrate in their work. Values are a set of ideas or beliefs that everyone agrees to in the team. 7 brilliant workplace values you can instil as a new manager are as follows:

ACCOUNTABILITY: Everyone in the team is responsible for their actions and for getting their work completed.

INTEGRITY: Everyone acts with professionalism is honest and trustworthy.

RESPECT: Everyone agrees to treat each other positively and to acknowledge that we all have different beliefs. It is those beliefs that make us unique.

HONESTY: If someone in the team makes a mistake, they will take ownership of it, put things right and share the lessons learned with everyone in the team so continuous improvement takes place.

TEAMWORK: Nobody is more important than the team. The team succeeds and fails as one. People in the team support each other, and when difficult challenges occur, the team pulls together.

INNOVATION: There is no such thing as a bad idea. Everyone in the team is encouraged to put forward ideas.

EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE: Everyone in the team agrees that without the customer, there would be no business. Customers always come first, and we will ask for feedback to empower us to grow and improve as a team.

#1. MEET WITH THE SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM

The first thing to do as a new manager is meet with the senior management team and get a full brief of what is expected of you and your team.

Ask the senior management team what the short, medium and long-term goals are of the company, what the most urgent matters are that need your attention, and any information they can give you about the current state of the team you will be responsible for, and how they have been performing.

 #2. MEET WITH YOUR TEAM

The second thing to do when you start work as a new manager is to meet your team or department. Get everyone together, and say the following:

“My name is [INSERT YOUR NAME], and I am your new manager. Over the next two weeks, please carry on with your work as normal. During this time, I will be monitoring your performance to see how effective you are and to also assess whether any changes need to be made. After the two-week period, we will meet again to discuss my plans for the team and to also inform you of the company’s short, medium and long-term goals. If anyone has any questions in the meantime, please come and see me.”

Now, during the two-week observation period, watch how your team performs from a distance, and take note of any areas of improvement needed and also any acts of good work performance carried out.

#3. GET FAMILIAR WITH COMPANY POLICIES, RULES AND PROCEDURES

The third thing you must do within the first 30 days of starting work as a new manager is read and understand the rules and procedures of the company. When you commence work, ask the senior management team which rules, policies and procedures they recommend you familiarise yourself with. Don’t forget, it is important to instil high standards in your team, and unless you are aware of the company policies and procedures, you won’t be able to achieve that important goal.

#4. MEET WITH YOUR TEAM AGAIN

The fourth thing to do in the first 30 days of starting your new job as a manager is to meet with your team again. This should take place after the initial two-week observation period.

During this team meeting, you will properly introduce yourself, talk about the good work you have seen them complete in that two-week period, and also outline any areas of improvement you want to see happen. At this meeting, you will also talk about the company values you want them all to demonstrate, and the plan of action you will be implementing. At the start of the meeting, you could say something like this…

“Over the past two weeks, I have had the opportunity to see how you work as a team and I have been impressed with your performance. (You would then highlight several key areas of good work you have seen.) Although the work has been excellent overall, there are several key areas I would like to see improvements. (You would then highlight the areas you want to see improvements in before discussing the company’s short, medium and long-term goals and your plan of action.)”

 #5. CONDUCT PERFORMANCE REVIEWS

The fifth and final thing you should do as a new manager in the first 30 days is to carry out a performance review with every person in your team. A performance review is where you sit down with each team member privately and discuss their plans for the forthcoming twelve months. During their performance review, set them targets to achieve and discuss their training needs. The performance review is also your opportunity to praise them for any outstanding work they have completed, and to assess their career aspirations.