The 5 Deadly Sins for New Managers (and tips to avoid them):
These stats should scare you:
❌ 40-60% of U.S. executives fail (Harvard)
❌ 40% of executives & corporate officers fail (McKinsey)
Those are the best of the best.
Brand new managers?
❌ 60% of new managers fail in their first 18 months (Gartner)
Why?
❌ 40-60% of U.S. executives fail (Harvard)
❌ 40% of executives & corporate officers fail (McKinsey)
Those are the best of the best.
Brand new managers?
❌ 60% of new managers fail in their first 18 months (Gartner)
Why?
1/ Don't set expectations
You probably did the job you now manage.
You take for granted the 100 lessons you learned through time.
Make them guess what you want?
Your habits become someone else's heartache.
Tip: Align on expectations for Goals (the what) & Approach (the how)
You probably did the job you now manage.
You take for granted the 100 lessons you learned through time.
Make them guess what you want?
Your habits become someone else's heartache.
Tip: Align on expectations for Goals (the what) & Approach (the how)
2/ Don't delegate
You keep your old work.
But now you have a new role too.
4 tasks pile on for every 1 you finish.
Meanwhile, your team waits.
Patiently at first. Then vocally. Then with their feet.
Tip: Delegate faster than feels comfortable.
You keep your old work.
But now you have a new role too.
4 tasks pile on for every 1 you finish.
Meanwhile, your team waits.
Patiently at first. Then vocally. Then with their feet.
Tip: Delegate faster than feels comfortable.
3/ Don't build trust
Illusion: Believing you start with trust
Reality: No trust Day 1, not even your old friends
And w/o trust, small things (gestures, comments) have big impacts.
And big things (critical feedback) crushing.
Tip: Lead with questions. Meet your commitments.
Illusion: Believing you start with trust
Reality: No trust Day 1, not even your old friends
And w/o trust, small things (gestures, comments) have big impacts.
And big things (critical feedback) crushing.
Tip: Lead with questions. Meet your commitments.
4/ Don't communicate clearly
Guess matters?
-> Your words
-> Your habits
-> Your actions
-> Your priorities
-> Your decisions
-> Your indecisions
Yes, your words matter more than ever.
But what you do and even what you don't do matters.
Tip: Slow is smooth & smooth is fast.
Guess matters?
-> Your words
-> Your habits
-> Your actions
-> Your priorities
-> Your decisions
-> Your indecisions
Yes, your words matter more than ever.
But what you do and even what you don't do matters.
Tip: Slow is smooth & smooth is fast.
5/ Don't act decisively
Should you lead with questions and humility?
100% Yes.
Should you gather data and seek smart triangulation?
Also wise.
But then you need to convert those inputs into a decision.
Tip: Be clear which mode you're in -> "Debate" vs. "Decide"
Should you lead with questions and humility?
100% Yes.
Should you gather data and seek smart triangulation?
Also wise.
But then you need to convert those inputs into a decision.
Tip: Be clear which mode you're in -> "Debate" vs. "Decide"
Yes, this can seem overwhelming.
Awareness of common mistakes helps.
Even better?
A codified management playbook + an engaged community of peers
That's the cheat code that sets future leaders apart from mediocre middle managers.
My next cohort starts on September 13th.
Awareness of common mistakes helps.
Even better?
A codified management playbook + an engaged community of peers
That's the cheat code that sets future leaders apart from mediocre middle managers.
My next cohort starts on September 13th.
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