Transitioning to a managerial role is exciting but comes with unique challenges. For example, first-time managers (FTM) may struggle with effective task delegation while maintaining control over team performance.
Struggling as an FTM? Making the transition from an individual contributor to a leader is tough. Often, they feel that nobody understands their struggles. Almost 50% of managers are rated as ineffective primarily because they have not received any training during the transition.
10 Common Challenges Faced by First-Time Managers:
1. Taking Charge of Former Peers
A promotion may mean leading former peers and this can be intimidating. Transitioning from being a colleague or friend into a superior while maintaining a positive relationship and gaining respect is tough. Companies can define job roles and career paths while encouraging FTMs to acquire new skills like managing and coordinating employees and influencing people.
2. Driving Team Achievement
FTMs need to guide and lead their teams when directions and expectations are not clearly defined, which can be more challenging if you manage hybrid teams. With a leadership training program for first-time managers, you can develop new skills to guide and monitor your team to ensure deadlines are met while building team chemistry.
3. Lack of Experience
This inexperience can make it difficult for FTMs to set clear expectations and goals and provide constructive feedback. To help overcome this challenge, organizations can offer support through development and training programs.
4. Efficiently Delegating Tasks
Efficient delegation of tasks is a huge challenge as FTMs may lack the ability to identify work that can be given to their team members. Acquiring skills like assisting team members without micromanaging, giving up control, and trusting others to complete the tasks is recommended.
5. Inspiring and Motivating Team Members
FTMs must inspire and motivate direct and non-direct reports. Instead of executing the operations and tasks, new managers must learn to step back and oversee success from the top by inspiring others to complete the assigned work and encouraging them to meet and surpass expectations. Additional skills needed include communicating organizational vision and mission and boost employee motivation.
6. Effective Communication
A huge challenge faced by FTMs is acquiring the communication skills that foster a collaborating environment and teamwork. Organizations need to actively support new leaders through team building, coaching, and training programs that empower them with effective communication skills.
7. Resolving Interpersonal Conflicts
New managers must proactively and reactively resolve conflicts between team members. Confronting issues is often a challenge for FTMs, which requires learning new skills. These include addressing and identifying potential issues before these escalate to bigger problems, mitigating conflicts, and dealing with team resistance.
8. Shifting to “Organization First” Mind set
Another tough challenge faced by new managers is their separation from peers. When you are promoted to a managerial position, you are not another team member. Your new responsibilities include leading and managing former colleagues, which requires an “organization first” mindset and can be challenging to FTMs.
9. Adjusting to Varying Goals and Personalities
People management is tough as every team member has a different personality and goals. Knowing that one management style does not work is important for FTMs. Companies must provide training to new managers to ensure their success.
10. Bringing Accountability
New leaders may be uncomfortable offering feedback, especially if it is negative, which is trickier if they manage hybrid or remote teams. Their urge to prove themselves as managers may lead them in the wrong direction. Organizations need to provide training that allows them to hold themselves accountable for their team members’ actions and effectively deal with people who lack the ability, experience, and knowledge.
If you are struggling with these challenges, know that these are common and you are not alone. Sometimes knowing that you are not alone can be helpful. Moving into a new leadership role and succeeding requires time and patience. Be kind and compassionate not only to your team members but to yourself too.
Feeling overwhelmed is natural and companies must provide access to mentors and training opportunities for new managers. Ensuring they can ask questions and receive feedback is important to help them transition into their new roles.
Ready to take the next step? Check out our first time manager training program and make the transition smooth for your people.
