Introduction
The ultimate guide to leadership for first-time managers
Written by Anna Roberts and Phil Kendall
Congratulations on moving to your first ever management role!
Whether you finally landed that big promotion or you're taking your first steps into management at a brand new company, you’re making a huge leap up the career ladder.
Suddenly your working day will be very different. Instead of operating on the front line of the business, you’ll be a stepping stone between entry-level staff and senior management.
It’s your job to help the former succeed and make sure that the latter are satisfied. You’ll need a very different skillset to what you’ve been using so far in your career.
With the size of the task ahead of you, it’s not surprising that you may have some concerns about becoming a manager.
Yes, management does require a different skillset, and a different mindset to your former role. But if you’re well prepared and understand your new responsibilities and how best to fulfill them, you can step into that first team meeting full of confidence.
This guide will walk you through your preparation for your first managerial role, show you how to build and shape your leadership style, and ultimately make a storming success of your new job.
Preparation
Assuming that you’ve been given more than five minutes’ warning of your new role, there’s time to do some prep work before your first day!
Your team's first impression of you, their new manager, will define your relationship for the initial weeks and months of your role. That’s why it’s crucial to prepare thoroughly for your first day.
#1 Get in touch
If at all possible, ask your new boss if it’s possible for you to contact your new team before your first day as their manager. There may be issues around this if you’re starting at the company rather than being promoted internally, but you may be able to get hold of their work email addresses. In fact, email may be the best communication channel for your introduction.
Here’s a template to get your started:
Hi [first name],
I’m [your name], your new manager - I’ll be starting on [date]. I’m excited to get started and meet you in person. I’ve long admired the work your team/company does, and I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to help shape its future.
Previously, I worked as [job title] at [company/department], but I’m looking forward to moving to this new role because it allows me to contribute to [X] and [Y].
On my first day, I’ll arrange one-to-one meetings with you and the others on the team, but in the meantime I’d love to learn more about your role within the team and what you’re currently working on.
And if you have any questions for me, please send them my way - I’ll do my best to answer them. Looking forward to working with you!
Kind regards,
We recommend personalising these emails as much as you can - employees will appreciate that you went to the effort of composing separate emails instead of sending everyone identical messages. Little things like this are key to making the right impression.
These email conversations will set the tone for future communications with your team - bear that in mind when typing your responses to any replies!
#2 Reach out to senior managers
All too often new managers are so focused on managing their team that they forget they also need to foster relationships with senior managers.
They’ll decide your budget and resources, so it’s best to be cordial towards them as soon as possible! In particular, speak to senior managers about the goals for your team and if there are any key performance indicators (KPIs) you should focus on.
If you’re not sure who you’ll be reporting to, you could speak to your interviewers to find out.
Ask senior managers about the tools and equipment currently used by your new team. Find out about hardware, software, and specialist equipment you might require. Knowing the resources you have to work with is important if you’re to hit the ground running.
#3 Contact other junior managers
Other junior managers at the company can become valuable peers and mentors as you embark upon your managerial career. If you’ve been promoted to your new role, reach out to managers you know through work.
If you’re moving to the company for the first time, connect with managers on LinkedIn beforehand. Try to keep these conversations friendly but professional. Ask about company culture. See if they have any advice for you in your new role.
#4 Brainstorm ideas for change, but don’t set your heart on them
You probably made the move into management because you wanted to change the company for the better by guiding and leading a specific team to success. If you already have plenty of ideas about how to switch up your new team, note them down.
By all means, research their viability and calculate the costs and benefits associated with each of your ideas, but don’t fixate on them.
Once you’re a few months into your new role, you’ll be better placed to understand how changes will affect your team and the company as a whole.
Are you ready for your first day as a manager?
By the time you set foot in your new office, you should be confident that you understand your new responsibilities, your team’s goals, and the role of each employee who’ll be under your watch.