Feature Article
New Managers
E. Carol Webster, Ph.D.
Copyright © 2010
Congratulations! You’re a new manager and are excited about your new
job. You want to do well and have a lot of great ideas, but not so
fast…take time to settle in before making lots of changes.
·
Get to Know
Your Staff
Sure, you came up through the ranks and know all the staff – but you
don’t know them in your role as their manager. Give yourself time
to settle in. See who accepts your new role as an authority figure and
who doesn’t. Who has ideas to make the department better and who’s going
to be a problem to you? Meet with your staff together, but also take the
time to meet with them individually so that you have the benefit of
their wisdom, as well as the opportunity to spot problems that may be
brewing for you.
·
Spend Time with Your
Boss
Your boss thinks enough of you to have promoted you to this position,
but don’t assume you know everything about what he or she expects. Take
time to understand their vision for the future and how your department
fits in. Learn what has been on point in the past and what needs to
change going forward. You’ll have opinions about this based upon your
employment with the organization all these years, but now you’re a
manager and that means you must start looking at things from a new
perspective.
·
Respect Existing
Policies and Procedures
You’ve got great insights and ideas, but don’t assume that everyone who
came before was an idiot. Many policies and procedures probably still
will work very well and don’t require modification. Make changes wisely
and judiciously. Your staff has a lot to adjust to and more change is
not necessarily better. Give everyone, including yourself, time to
assess what definitely is or isn’t working before you toss it out and
make radical changes.
It’s exciting to be a new manager and you should feel proud of yourself.
But don’t charge ahead too fast to put your mark on things. Value your
staff and preserve those policies and procedures that help things run
smoothly. This reflects well on the wisdom of your predecessors as well
as you!
