Too often we promote individual contributors into roles where we now want them to manage people without providing them what they need to be successful. Simply because someone is good technically – doing the tasks associated with their role – doesn’t mean they will be good leading people. Leading people requires different skillsets. To enable for new managers to be successful in their new roles managing people – enable them to develop those skillsets!
Obtaining those necessary skills and competencies can be done through training, providing the new manager a mentor, through the use of a manager community portal, and through on-the-job training. Let’s briefly look at each of these areas to enable for new managers to develop the skills necessary to be successful leading others.
Training
There are a number of key skills in which new managers should be trained. This includes, not in any particular order:
- Time management and delegation
- Leading with emotional intelligence
- Setting goals
- Managing performance and providing feedback
- Communicating up, down and across the organization
- Presenting information and data
- Facilitating one-on-one and team meetings
- Team leadership
- Problem solving and decision making
- Resolving conflicts
- Leading and driving change
And, of course human resource-specific information that enables for ensuring employees are treated equitably and policies, procedures, and regulations are adhered to.
Manager Community Portal
An internal portal for managers serves as a community for them. A way to share best practices and collaborate with their peers to solve problem and resolve challenges they face in their role. A internal portal provides a way for new managers to interact with managers that have been in the job for a while and learn from them.
This portal is also a great way to enable for human resource business partners to interact with managers in a global organization and share information, help address employee-related issues, and provide other support as new managers grow in their role.
On-the-Job Learning with a Mentor
On-the-job learning is best supported by providing a mentor to the new manager. A mentor provides the new manager with a guide – someone who has been down this path before – as they find their path in leading others.
A mentor is the “go-to” person for the new manager. Someone who can assist in solving problems, providing support as the new manager develops their skills, and being a sounding board overall.
The more support you can provide new managers in their role, the more likely they are to be successful. Successful managers enable for successful employees, which leads to a productive team that can contribute positively to the bottom line.
Contact Abudi Consulting Group to learn how we can help you ensure your new managers are skilled and ready to lead.
