Taking on the responsibilities of a manager for the first time is a tough job – and one in which many of us lack guidance. First-time managers must set expectations and boundaries for how work gets done and how people grow.
‘Message Me Anytime Something Comes Up.’
While having an open-door policy sounds wonderful theoretically, your constant availability shows that you’re setting yourself up for continuous interruptions, impacting your work efficiency. Your team’s productivity is hampered too. Better yet, managers should communicate when, how, and when not to communicate depending on the urgency of a question.
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‘I’ll Tell You Everything.’
New managers tend to overshare details with their team to be liked and boost authenticity. While sharing information can foster trust and dependability, there can be times when it’ll be impossible to completely transparent.
For managers, it is better to promise their teams that they will be honest and open to the fullest extent possible and let their actions show it. It’s also important to be careful when sharing details as a boss.
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‘I’ll Get The Ball Rolling On This.’
Using phrases like this creates a sense of false hope that the request will definitely happen. But as a first time manager, your authority will be limited, and you’ll have supervisors to answer to. Therefore, saying, “I’ll check on this and get back to you”, is a better response than a vague reassurance and a disappointment later.
‘Let’s Get In The Weeds Of This Minor Detail.’
Placing excessive emphasis on the technical aspects of the job might make you a star employee, but this could be your downfall as a manager. A new manager who spends too long giving instructions on accomplishing the task runs the risk of being called a micromanager.