the reality of being a first time manager

They’re probably too self-conscious to admit they’re having a hard time, as if that would prove they didn’t deserve the promotion. Many first-time managers feel alone, as if they’re the only ones to struggle with taking on a management role. Leading a team engaging, motivating, and coaching others building relationships and finding constructive responses to conflict are among the specific challenges that new managers face. Being the boss of people who were your peers is often a difficult change. Help new managers to anticipate challenges and understand the learning curve is natural. Acknowledge the reality of the challenges they’re facing. Clarify the challenges of shifting from individual contributor to manager. What can organizations - and senior leaders - do to strengthen their leadership pipeline by developing new managers? 3 Ways to Help With Developing New Leadersīased on our decades of research and experience developing first-level managers, we suggest 3 key things to increase their chances of success:ġ. Without an attentive boss and supportive organization, first-time managers are on their own. Senior leaders and talent professionals know a frontline management role can be tough. No wonder 50% of managers in organizations are rated as ineffective. Almost 60% said they never received any training when they transitioned into their first leadership role.26% of first-time managers felt they were not ready to lead others to begin with.

20% of first-time managers are doing a poor job, according to their subordinates.Far too often, the new leader and their organization take for granted just how difficult it can be to transition from technical or functional expert to a leader of people. Making the transition from friend to boss is proving harder than he expected, he told us.īoth these scenarios are understandable, as they’re among the most common challenges for first-time managers. She’s finding that the skills and attributes that made her successful before aren’t very helpful for leading others, and she isn’t sure what to do differently.Īnother recently promoted manager is now responsible for direct reports who used to be his peers. That’s how one first-time manager described the letdown of being promoted from individual contributor to being a formal team leader. Now, I’m only an okay chemist and an okay manager.” “Before my promotion, I was a good-to-excellent chemist.

The reality of being a first time manager