6 New Manager Competencies You Cannot Succeed Without

There are Some New Manager Competencies You Cannot Succeed Without
Being a new manager is a challenge and requires specific new manager competencies.  When you have a new team, your responsibilities change in scope and complexity.  Your success is now dependent more on the success of others — not on your own individual contribution and performance.

We know from decades of data from or People Manager Assessment Center and from new manager training workshops that being a manger is not for everyone.  In fact, Gallup estimates that organizations promote the wrong people into new leadership roles 82 percent of the time.

The Six New Manager Competencies That Matter Most
Our leadership development training experts have identified six new manager competencies you cannot succeed without.  If you don’t come by these new manager competencies naturally, you had better find a management training program and an experienced management coach who can help you develop them if you aspire to succeed in your new supervisory position.

1. Teaming

   Why It Matters
   Research from Harvard Business Review shows that teams with high trust levels outperform others by up to 50% in collaboration effectiveness and innovation.

   For new managers, leadership isn’t just about directing work or making decisions—it’s about creating a team that thrives together. Many first-time leaders underestimate the power of teaming, assuming their role is primarily about assigning tasks and tracking performance. In reality, the ability to foster collaboration, trust, and mutual accountability defines their early success.

   The New Manager Competency
   The know-how to develop strong relationships, build a team, influence others and resolve conflict.  Managers help to create high performing teams by setting the team context, having a common purpose, defining clear goals and accountabilities, aligning team roles and responsibilities, not playing favorites, and by providing the appropriate level of resources.

2. Motivating

   Why It Matters
   According to Gallup research, highly engaged teams show 21% greater profitability and 17% higher productivity.

   Balancing tasks, priorities, and relationships while learning the nuances of leading is not easy. One of the most critical skills often overlooked in the early stages of management is motivation. A manager’s ability to inspire and energize a team directly impacts engagement, performance, and retention.

   The New Manager Competency
   The ability to motivate and develop team members for higher performance.  An entire post has been dedicated to motivating higher team performance.

3. Decision Making

   Why It Matters
   A study by McKinsey found that teams led by managers with strong decision-making skills completed projects 30% faster and reported higher satisfaction levels than teams led by indecisive leaders.

   Unlike individual contributors, managers must make choices that impact not just their own work but the performance, engagement, and direction of their entire team. Effective decision-making is a hallmark of strong leadership, influencing credibility, trust, and long-term results.

   The New Manager Competency
   An understanding of business acumen and organizational savvy — politics, decision making, problem solving, prioritizing, and organizing to make better, faster, and more decisive decisions — especially when the stakes are high.

4. Communicating

   Why It Matters
   According to McKinsey, teams with clear and consistent internal communication are 25% more productive and agile when responding to change.

   Beyond managing tasks, deadlines, and performance, managers must navigate the human side of leadership. At the heart of it all is communication. The ability to clearly, consistently, and authentically communicate sets the tone for team engagement, trust, and overall success.

   The New Manager Competency
   The ability to communicate (to both advocate and inquire) with authenticity, clarity, transparency and empathy.

5. Financial Analyzing

   Why It Matters
   According to the Harvard Business Review, managers who can interpret and discuss financial data are perceived as more credible and strategic, enhancing their influence with stakeholders.

   New managers inherit a host of new responsibilities. Among the most critical — but often overlooked — skills is financial analysis. Understanding the numbers behind your organization’s operations is essential for making informed decisions, gaining credibility, and influencing outcomes.

   The New Manager Competency
   Financial skills so you can put together a budget, analyze financial reports, prioritize what matters most, teach your team how the business works, and always know where things stand.

6. Project Managing

   Why It Matters
   Research from the Project Management Institute shows that organizations with strong project management practices are 38% more likely to meet project goals, budgets, and timelines.

   We know from project postmortem results that managing project teams is more than creating timelines or assigning tasks. It’s the discipline of planning, executing, and monitoring work to achieve objectives on time and within budget. For new managers, mastering this skill provides clarity, control, and the ability to lead teams to meaningful results.

   The New Manager Competency
   Basic project management skills to define, plan, and execute projects successfully.  With the uptick of teaming, project management skills for non-project managers is a new, but important entry on this list.

The Bottom Line
New managers cannot rely solely on technical knowledge to succeed. Mastering these six competencies is essential for gaining credibility, influencing outcomes, and driving team performance. By developing these skills early, managers set the stage for both personal and organizational success.

To learn more about new manager competencies you cannot succeed without, download our recent research report The Relationship Between Employee Engagement and Manager Effectiveness