Succeeding as a New Manager

For any organisation to achieve success and stay ahead of competition in these days of cut-throat competition, it needs to be effectively managed. Good managers will consistently motivate employees to perform at the highest level of productivity; while managers with poor managerial skills will frequently cause decreased productivity; increased turnover; increased absence; increased human-resource mediation situations; increased customer service complaints, etc.

Achieving effective management

One thing that is very critical to achieving effective management is the knowledge of the greatest management principle (GMP). The key to getting results in your business lies in the effective deployment of the greatest management principle in the world, motivating yourself and others. Michael LeBoeuf, a renowned author and business-management expert educates that the greatest management principle is the way of solving problems and stimulating productivity. He explains that the greatest management principle in the world is that the things that get rewarded get done. In his words, “The greatest single obstacle to the success of today’s organisations is the giant mismatch between the behaviour we need and the behaviour we reward.”

Promotion and transition

Transition stage is a very important stage in managerial advancement. Getting promoted is a common goal, but perhaps the most difficult promotion is making a transition from a line worker to a manager. This is because the skills that make one successful as a line worker are not the skills required to be successful as a manager.

As Dan Bobinski, president and CEO of Leadership Development, Inc., and co-author of “Living Toad Free: Overcoming Resistance to Motivation” puts it, “If you’re a recently promoted line worker – or are looking to get promoted – it’s time to learn a whole new skill set. Consider Mike. He’s been with his company five years, building an excellent reputation as a craftsman. Everyone recognises that Mike has produced the best the company has to offer. Recently Mike was promoted to shop supervisor. Before long, Mike’s former peers were complaining about being micromanaged. And instead of educating people in what to do, Mike just did the work himself. To head off production and morale problems, the company’s owner pulled Mike aside.”

One major error

Like Mike, most new or inexperienced managers do the job instead of developing subordinates. They fail to delegate tasks. As a manager, the more you delegate, the faster you develop people that can accomplish much more in much less time and you will be respected as someone who gets things done with self-motivated people. The major purpose of management is to provide for continuation of business over time. A properly managed business can continue successful operation over generations of employees and during the temporary or permanent absence of any manager. Absence of a manager is not supposed to cripple a company’s operations. If it does, then such a manager has neglected his obligations. This is because the mark of a good manager or leader is ability to reproduce other managers or leaders. Good managers are concerned with their staff’s professional advancement. They do everything possible to help staff members develop their capabilities. They believe in subordinates.

Ed Sykes, a renowned motivator and human-resource-development consultant says, “The leaders’ actions might range from improving specific aspects of job performance, to delegating special assignments, to developing an action plan for promotions. Perfect leaders must have the ability to assess the strengths and weaknesses of employees and use that to coach for continuous improvement.”

Lack of adequate training

As regards the issue of Mike already illustrated, at the root of his micromanagement is lack of adequate training. Succeeding in a managerial position is not by magic. Rather, you need to learn about the fundamentals or undergo training. Bobinski says he knows of a company that has experienced a 50 per cent turnover in entry-level management over the last year due to lack of adequate training for the position. “This company has job descriptions outlining what is expected for each managerial level. Unfortunately, nothing is outlined on how to train or equip people so they can actually do those managerial tasks. At the risk of oversimplification, the core of what new supervisors need to learn consists of three basic skill sets, these are learning to plan better; learning about people; and learning to communicate purpose,” he explains. Let us examine these skill sets further.

Learning to plan better

If you fail to plan, then you are planning to fail. To surmount obstacles, new managers need to create an organised, effective, workable plan. It means identifying key action items and important details and then using good time management and delegation skills to get the job done. You need to know exactly where you are going and how to get there. With effective planning, this is very possible.

People skill and effective communication

The effectiveness of your work will never rise above your ability to lead and influence others, and you cannot produce consistently on a level higher than your leadership. Good human relations and appreciation are therefore central to effective leadership. “Our success, fulfilment, and happiness depend upon our ability to relate effectively. The best way to become a person that others are drawn to is to develop qualities that we are attracted to in others,” says John Maxwell. As a line worker, resources consist of raw products, materials, or information needed to make or assemble whatever the company produces. But as a manager, your resources are your people. In the same way that a good line worker understands the strengths and weaknesses of different raw products, a manager must understand the strengths and weaknesses of his team members. To be successful, a new manager must have effective communication skills.

Parting words

Making a successful transition from a line worker to an effective manager is very challenging as it requires mastery of a new set of skills. The best way to succeed is through continuous learning and training. Try to prepare yourself ahead of promotion by learning about what it takes to succeed. And you will definitely succeed.