This Tip looks at three additional challenges newly promoted managers need to meet, including leadership balance, communication issues, etc.
There are many potential mine fields when an individual contributor is promoted to a managerial position.
If you are a newly promoted manager, here are #4-#6 of the 11 challenges you may face- and how you can meet those challenges.
Three Additional Challenges Newly Promoted Managers Need to Meet
Note that the To Do’s include a variety of suggestions. Select what makes sense for you.
4.Leadership balance
Micromanagement with your staff will backfire.
Your role is to empower, mentor, and remove blockers, not to dictate technical solutions.
Focus on enabling your team to make good independent decisions.
To Do:
- Assume the role of leader, not dictator.
- Consider how you would like to be treated by your manager.
- Meet with staff and actively listen to their concerns and suggestions.
- Identify and handle blockers to team performance.
- Advocate for your team.
- Get comfortable with delegating responsibilities and decision-making authority.
5.Communication issues
You want to avoid broken or inefficient communication.
Context switching and unclear priorities can derail productivity.
To Do:
- Clarify priorities and ensure that all members of the team are aware of them.
- Check for breakdowns in communication and fix them.
- Make sure that communication channels are open and everyone is using the correct channel for the correct purpose.
- Ensure that the teams are aligned, and address blockers.
- Avoid overwhelming developers with status updates.
6.Managing remote and hybrid work
Since you can’t just walk over to a team member’s desk to discuss an issue or resolve a problem, you need to rely on clear, concise communication, active listening, and empathy.
It requires effort to maintain team cohesion and a sense of purpose when team members are scattered.
To Do:
- Trust that, if your team is getting the work done, they’re spending their time wisely.
- Many staff are more productive when they’re comfortable and working in familiar surroundings.
- Keep in touch with all team members, either through a scheduled meeting or communication channel.
- Get to know them, what’s going on in their lives that they’re willing to share.
- Ensure that the team meets regularly, either in the office or on an online platform where you can see their faces.
- Let them know you value them and their work.
In Tip #1104, we’ll consider #7-#11 of the 11 challenges new managers may face.
If you are having difficulty managing former colleagues, I can help. Schedule a free 30-minute strategy session using http://bit.ly/44yLO5l so we can discuss your options.
