Challenges for New Managers

Question: What are some challenges that new managers may encounter, and how should they respond to them?

Response:  Two things come to mind: The first is being promoted and managing former peers, and the second is developing relationships with new peers.

It’s difficult when you have to manage a team who were your former peers, especially if you’ve developed personal relationships with some. I remember working with a group of engineers where one was promoted without receiving guidance about how to step up to the new role and responsibilities. He kept acting as if he was one of the team members which created confusion and some contention.

It’s important to let people adjust to the news and the fact that you’ll be their new manager before you jump in with both feet. Meet one-on-one with each team member and clarify your expectations. Let them know your goals for the department and how you see them contributing to its success.

Emphasize that you value their contributions while reminding them you now have a different role to play and different responsibilities. The most important things you can tell them is you’ll support them in any way possible, and you know they can do their jobs because you’ve been working alongside of them. Then get out of their way.

Be open to hearing each team member’s ideas and concerns, and respond to those concerns. Acknowledge that you will be holding them accountable for their work and don’t be afraid to do so. Your new responsibility is to the team and its success, so it’s important that you coach and counsel a team member when the situation warrants it. 

Whether you’re new to the role, or new to the organization, another challenge is developing rapport with your new peers—other managers.  Don’t be afraid to be curious—it’s an important tool to use in your management journey. Find out what other departments are doing—let them know you want to hear more about their work and teams. This lets them know you understand that no one department stands above any others.

Ask other managers about their perception of your department and team.  Set some times to meet with other managers—for coffee or lunch. You not only get to know them better—personally and professionally—but you can gain insights about how you can all support each other.  

There may be informal networking groups where other managers share ideas and brainstorm. If so, participate in them. These are valuable opportunities to solicit ideas especially if there is an issue that is perplexing you. There may be common issues that your peers are dealing with as well. They also can share their institutional knowledge of the organization.

As you get to know your peers and mutual trust builds, it’s likely they will, at times, be more candid with you than your own manager might be because they bring a different perspective.

We answer a lot of questions in our books, The Decisive Manager and The Manager’s Answer Book.  They are valuable reads for anyone navigating the new workplace. With Boss’s Day coming in just a few weeks, you may want to keep these in mind and share this information