You Have Been Promoted to Manager — Now What?

What to Do Once You Are Promoted to Manager
The red balloon is yours! You have finally been promoted to manager.  Now your success is based upon the overall success of your team.  And we know from our people manager assessment center that most new managers struggle after they are promoted.

Do Not Wait — Be Proactive
But you are a bit worried about the transition to manager and how lonely it seems up there. If you have not been given the benefit of new manager training before or after being promoted to manager, you need to be proactive in preparing yourself for the challenges ahead.

Ask For Help and Support
Don’t be shy about asking for help or guidance from someone you trust who has managed and led people before. Meantime, begin by prioritizing your activities and taking charge of your own path upward.

Three New Manager Questions You Need to Answer as Soon as Possible
Based upon management training program data over 25 years, make sure that your new mangers can confidently and competently answer these fundamental questions.

1. What is Most Important to Do the First Week as a New Manager?
   Certainly you will want to meet with your team and set up one-on-one meetings so you learn about who they are on both a personal and professional basis. Then plan what is most critical to accomplish in the first month — and then in the first quarter for you and your team.

   A good start is often based upon clear expectations.  Our organizational alignment research found that strategic clarity accounts for thirty-one percent of the difference between high and low performing teams

2. Who Will Be Most Critical to Your Success as a New Manager Besides Your Team?
   Plan to meet with those stakeholders in the organization upon whom you will depend upon for resources, support and collaboration.  Your key stakeholders are those individuals and groups who have a direct impact on the success of your team.

   For each stakeholder, identify what they need from you, what you need from them, how success will be measured, and if there are any barriers to success.

3. What Are the Current Gaps and How Can You Fill Them?
   Increase your self awareness as a new manager.  Get help to identify your strengths and weaknesses as a manager in areas like communicating, decision making, allocating resources, managing change, solving problems, managing projects, and making business presentations.  Then have a clear plan to play to your strengths while augmenting and improving your weaknesses.

   Do not underestimate this step.  Poor management transitions create poor new managers.

The Bottom Line
The fundamental skills and knowledge for new supervisors consist of knowing your roles and responsibilities as a manager, communicating effectively, managing performance, motivating your team, prioritizing tasks, and delegating effectively.

To learn more about how to succeed after being promoted to manager, download The Top 6 Management Best Practices that Make the Difference Between Effective and Extraordinary