Skip to content

Call for immediate help from one of our team 01622 47 41 49

Call for immediate help from one of our team 01622 47 41 49

Call for immediate help from one of our team 01622 47 41 49

Call for immediate help from one of our team 01622 47 41 49

General Business
Managing People
Employment & HR

Tips For a First Time Manager

Primed Team
1 July 2024 5 minutes

It’s the first day sitting at the manager's desk! Managing is an entirely different approach and can be daunting for new people. Here we look at potential challenges and provide some snippets of wisdom to make the transition to management accessible and effective.

Tips For a First Time Manager

You’re now the manager, congratulations! You now have an exciting new journey at work to explore. Though it may seem daunting at first with such a big change of role. There is now a team looking to you for direction; they have different needs to take into account, and there are bigger decisions to make. Success isn’t just measured by your own achievements anymore; your team’s success will be partly determined by your leadership. You may feel the need to get the team to like you or make big decisions to put your stamp on the company. Many different ideas and thoughts could be blurring. It is important to keep the concept of leadership simple, allow time to adjust and trust the transition process. To make it easier, we have some snippets of advice to offer to help you get started. 

Tips for being a good manager

  • Embrace your accountability. Following through with what you say and avoiding impossible promises will nurture trust along with setting a measurable standard for your team.
  • Make yourself approachable. It’s essential that your staff feel comfortable engaging with you. If anyone feels intimidated, they will never interact or, in extreme cases, leave employment.
  • Employ active listening techniques. This means taking in what is being communicated thoroughly. It goes deeper than just hearing. Notice body language and similar verbal cues to better understand what is said. Eye contact and using the other person’s words back to them will make them feel like you are giving them your full attention.
  • Don’t feel like you must have all the answers. A manager who asks a lot of questions is not weak or lacking in anything. Being certain that your decision is best for the company and your team will earn you respect. Learning your staff’s unique skills will help you delegate tasks to those who are most compatible. Similarly, ask those with knowledge and experience for advice. You are still in charge of making the decisions, so arm yourself with as much knowledge as possible to help. Your staff will appreciate you listening to their ideas and enjoy working for you. 
  • Avoid being a friend vs a manager. It’s good to feel liked, most of us care about what others think. As a manager, you are responsible for a team, and being overly friendly may lead to favouritism or less impartiality. A team needs leading and will respect a balanced authority figure who does not allow personal aspects to govern work decisions.

Try out these suggestions. It’s entirely possible to lead effectively and be liked or respected by your employees. Management is rewarding and enjoyable if there’s respect and rapport in a team.

Get answers to your HR challenges with our unlimited HR advice line, giving you the confidence to manage people effectively.

Support managing your people

At Primed, we’re known for our personal approach and the quality of advice we provide. We have all the expertise you need under one roof, with an integrated team of HR advisors and employment lawyers, so there’s no need to go elsewhere when things get tricky.

 

  • Unlimited advice line with direct access to HR advisors & employment lawyers
  • Outcome-driven advice, to achieve your goals quickly and in a way that suits your business
  • Tailored response to your business and its circumstances
  • Template employment contract & essential policies
  • SRA regulated law firm ranked in The Legal 500

Your next read

Employee Handbook & HR Policies
General Business
Managing People
Employment & HR
As the workplace evolves into a more diverse landscape, encompassing differences in race, religion, gender, age and more,...
By Primed Team 8 October 2024
Upcoming and Important Factors Of The Worker Protection Act
Employee Handbook & HR Policies
General Business
Managing People
Employment & HR
A landmark event in workers' rights is about to hit and must be approached with thoroughness. Time is ticking so make sure you...
By Primed Team 4 October 2024
The Right to Switch Off Striking a Balance Between Work and Life
Employee Handbook & HR Policies
General Business
Managing People
Employment & HR
The "Right to Switch Off" has become crucial as workplaces, especially with remote working, face challenges in separating...
By Primed Team 1 October 2024