Playing a Role and Not Just Becoming a First Time Manager

So you are about to become a “First Time Manager”?

Well, let’s get a few things straight right at the start. First about “becoming”: You are not going to become a First Time Manager, you will only start playing a new role. You will be the same. Only the role will change. This is exactly like taking on new roles in your life: The role of a Mother or father, when your first child is born; taking the role of a Caregiver when your parents are aging, taking on the role of a spouse if and when you get married…and so on. You remain the same. Only the role you are playing changes from time to time. Next let’s look at “First time”. This moment is seeing a first time “you” that life has never seen before! Our body and mind is changing all the time. Everything is renewing itself. All is flux.

So when we take on a new role, what are a few things to keep in mind to make the transition happen with ease, grace and joyful effectiveness?

Here are a few tips that can apply to the role of First Time Manager, or to any other role that you are taking on for the first time:

1. Remember, you are not the role. You are playing a role. Do not take the problems or challenges of the new role personally. Stay anchored in who you really are > Pure Potentiality. The way to do this is to take repeated and short moments of Silence several times a day to get in touch with your positive and pure potential;
2. Understand what others expect from your role. Go out and listen to them. Remember, every role has its “Customers”… people who will receive the outputs of your work or efforts in the role; Do not do this just at the start of playing a new role. Keep doing it regularly. Remember, all is in flux and expectations can, and do change;
3. In a study of the people who rose to take on increasingly responsible roles in organisations, we have found that those who are self-motivated and life-long learners rise to taking on increasingly more responsible roles; stay with a beginner’s mind. Make learning a lifelong habit. Sumant Moolgaonkar, the creator of Telco (Now Tata Motors) would keep learning about Automobiles at 80 years of age. Bill Veltrop, a 92-year-old leading light in Organisational and Leadership development, learns like a first year college student, diligently making notes and asking questions with the utmost openness and humility. As Eric Hoffer has said,

“In times of change learners inherit the earth; while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.”

All the best for playing your new role! Be sincere, and don’t take it too seriously!