This article has been submitted by the team at Grapevine Evaluations.
Becoming a manager is the culmination of years of hard work and dedication. It’s your time to prove why you deserve this promotion. You’re in the spotlight, and it’s a great deal of pressure. There are many opportunities for you to succeed, although there are just as many chances to fail. You can avoid bungles as a supervisor, though. Read on to learn which mistake new managers almost always make and how to avoid it.
Being a Boss: Not Just a Title, But a Mindset Shift
You can read plenty of articles out there about the errors new managers make. Every author will mention different missteps. However, they stem from one major source: an inability to start thinking like a supervisor.
Becoming a manager isn’t just a change in job title and more money. It requires a shift in mindset. You’re responsible for providing guidance and support to your team. And if you’ve never done that before (which makes sense – this is probably your first time managing other people), you don’t understand what it means to think like a boss.
So what does it mean to make the mindset shift to a supervisor? First, you have to let go of your old position. You might be saying, “Believe me, I’ve moved on. I’m a manager now!” But telling people you’re a manager and thinking like one are not the same thing. Your daily to-do lists are going to transform. Instead of having to complete this report or that assignment, you’re going to have to ensure that your employees have the resources they need to get their jobs done.
As an employee, you most likely got caught up in the details of your daily tasks. Now, you have to focus on departmental and organizational goals. What if you’re really not sure what those are? More important, what if you realize that the department’s goals aren’t realistic or are at odds with those of your company? And what if you’ve concluded that the way your department or team does things isn’t advancing those goals or there are roadblocks to achieving them?
Thinking like a manager (especially an effective one) involves determining solutions to those problems. You might find that your employees are a great source of advice, particularly when it comes to issues at the team or departmental level.
Second, you can’t be afraid to make decisions. Yes, you might discover further down the line you’ve made the wrong call. That happens; you’re only human. For the most part, it’s better to make the incorrect decision than to refuse to take any action. Your team or department won’t flourish if you sit on the fence.
Third, don’t make your voice the only one heard, come employee review time. That’s simultaneously giving yourself too much blame and praise when it comes to the outcome. Use 360 reviews to give your employees a fair review, and make sure your opinion isn’t the only one on record.
Your Top Secret Weapon: Confidence
It’s natural to be nervous (okay, even terrified) at the prospect of starting something new, especially when you’re taking on much more responsibility than before. How do you succeed at thinking like a boss, let alone acting like one?
Remember why your higher-ups chose you for this role. They thought you were capable, intelligent and talented, and they didn’t make this decision lightly. You might have to tell yourself that in front of a mirror, or write it down every day. The bottom line is, reminding yourself that you can do this will give you the confidence you need to succeed.
This article has been submitted by the team at Grapevine Evaluations. Grapevine provides 360 degree feedback in an online tool designed for HR departments to easily create, manage and distribute employee evaluations for any sized organization.
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