So you have been bumped up to a first line manager’s position and, let’s face it, you’re probably filled with a combination and pride and dread.
A lot of people want to become a manager.
They want the prestige of leading a team and having their staff look up to them.
What many people don’t know is how to be an effective first line manager.
You have probably started the position overwhelmed by the extra work or the fact that you are the first point of contact for your team.
With our 4 essential tips for first line managers you can start to grow into your new role with confidence, self-assurance and being ready to take on whatever comes at you.
Don’t Think That You Have ‘Made It’
Maybe you have your own office now or you have started to pass out instructions?
The important thing is that you don’t simply stop developing or think that you know everything. As the saying goes, if you are the smartest person in the room, then you are in the wrong room.
A manager’s job involves not only leading but also learning as well.
Mangers that think they have suddenly become the most knowledgeable person in the building don’t tend to last.
Get To Know Your Staff
There is nothing worse than a line manager that hardly knows anything about their staff.
Hold regular group and one-on-one meetings to gauge how everyone feels about their work and the department in general.
Knowing what pleases your staff, what ticks them off and taking on board any suggestions they have creates a constructive and efficient environment.
Everyone has a different way of working and communicating and getting to know your staff is just as important as knowing your own responsibilities.
Assert Your Authority When Needed
As a manager you are the one that makes the final decisions for your team.
Get advice from your colleagues at the same level that perhaps have more experience than you before you make any rash judgement calls.
Many managers are afraid to assert their authority on their staff. They feel like they are overstepping the mark even though they are the ones in charge.
At the end of the day you are in a position of authority and your team looks to you for direction and guidance. Don’t be afraid to use this power when needed.
Use Effective Stress Management
With that extra responsibility and salary comes more stress.
Everyone in your department is working together towards a common goal but it is your shoulders that bear the burden.
It is natural to get stressed out. It’s normal to feel like throwing the towel in and going back to your old job but dealing with stress will help you become a better manager.
Keep doing what you enjoy in your personal life, create a healthy work/life balance and bounce ideas off your friends and family. Sometimes it is the people looking from the outside in that are in the best position to give you advice.
And Finally
Always remember that a first line manager is there to not only lead their team but listen to their staff, deal with any problems and provide guidance and support.
Imagine what you thought a good manager should be before you got promoted and try and put it into practice.
