Foxie knows that becoming a manager isn’t just about getting a new title. It’s about learning to lead people who may have been your friends and co-workers yesterday and now they expect you to make important decisions today.
Here are five things nobody bothered to put in the new manager’s handbook:
- Your employees don’t need another friend. They need a leader – You can be friendly without trying to be everyone’s best friend. Set clear expectations, be fair, and treat people with respect. Your job isn’t to win a popularity contest; it’s to build a team that works well together.
- Your job is now to help others succeed – As an employee, your success depended primarily on your own performance. As a manager, your success depends on your team. Remove roadblocks, recognize good work, coach when necessary, and give people the opportunity to grow.
- You’re not supposed to have every answer – Being the boss doesn’t mean you are suddenly a walking Google and that you know everything. Sometimes the best answer is, “I don’t know, but let’s figure it out together.”
- Communication will save you from a lot of headaches – Employees can’t meet expectations they don’t understand. Be clear about priorities, deadlines, responsibilities, and changes. You never want your employees wondering, “Wait…what are we supposed to be doing…and why?”
- Delegate without panicking – Delegating doesn’t mean dumping work on someone else and disappearing into your office. It means giving capable employees responsibility and trusting them to handle it. Give them the goal, the deadline, and the resources they need to get the job done. If you must do everything yourself, congratulations; you’ve created a job where you’re the only employee.
Great managers don’t create employees who wait for instructions. They create employees who think, solve problems, and take ownership. Communicate clearly, trust your people, celebrate their wins, and remember…the best managers know when to step in…and when to step back into the shadows.
Foxie understands that managing people is easier when communication is easier. Our products, LinkMy.Events and LinkMy.Wedding, help to keep teams, vendors, guests, schedules, announcements and important information connected and organized.
Text “START” to Foxie at 36943, email me at hjames@foxie.com or call us at 866-BE-ENGAGED (866-233-6424).