Moving up in a career means tackling the challenges that managing or supervising other people can bring. This doesn’t just require the development of a new skill set but also an ideological shift too. If you’re about to enter the world of management for the first time then there are a few tips that might make the transition easier.
You don’t need to have all the answers
Even supervisors can ask questions and look for information to ensure they get it right. It’s far better to ask for input or request feedback than to plough on regardless and be unaware of any crashing errors you’re repeatedly making.
Learn how to delegate
It’s a rookie manager mistake to make yourself responsible for absolutely everything. Good delegation means taking responsibility for ensuring a job is done – but that doesn’t mean you have to do the job yourself.
Avoid trying to be a friend to everyone
Every employee who is moving upwards will eventually find themselves in a supervisory role with former colleagues. It’s important to be friendly and accessible but those lines of management need to be drawn. Otherwise leadership and discipline will be almost impossible to implement when required.
Get to grips with the concept of “fairness”
The people working under you will expect to be treated fairly – in fact, it’s the perception of unfairness that often causes the most problems for managers. However, that doesn’t mean that you need to treat everyone the same. Sometimes the route to fair treatment means treating people differently (as long as you’re not falling into discrimination territory).
Find a way to balance new responsibilities
With a move upward into management comes additional pressure. If you want to be a good supervisor then you need to learn to deal with this extra pressure in a way that doesn’t entail taking it out on the people around you. It’s important to find a way to have downtime when you can detach and relax from your responsibilities. Having someone to talk to who understands your position can also be incredibly useful.
Sometimes the answer is no
As juniors we’re often encouraged to say yes to every request and opportunity. As you become more senior the ability to say no – to superiors or juniors – starts to be an essential quality to avoid overwork, resentment and too much pressure.
Become a change specialist
At the heart of every successful business is the ability to swiftly adapt to change. Nothing stays the same and it’s the way that we cope with this that often defines the kind of managers we are and the value we can offer to the business. If your skill set is underpinned by an awareness of how to handle – and optimise – change then you’ll be a great manager to follow and a valuable asset to the business overall.
The PTP
Introduction to Management and Supervisory Skills course provides a valuable overview of how to take that key step up in your career. If you’re looking to enable that mindset switch this type of training is essential.