You’re Starting a New Management Job!

Being a manager is a challenging job.

It’s usually about managing people as much as managing things (computers/finance/supermarkets). People are unpredictable, time consuming, ever changing in their needs and moods AND outside your control.

It’s early days and things WILL settle down – new things will become routine. Don’t doubt yourself – this is a new challenge and you probably have nobody to ask how they did it.

It will take time to integrate all the roles and tasks which are your responsibility.

There are things you can do, both personally and at work which can help. You have to do both (personal and work) simultaneously because they impact on each other.

PERSONAL

These tips are quick to implement, within your control and will bring immediate encouraging results.

1.  Organise your home – it will feel better, help you be   time efficient in the mornings etc. You need a haven of order, peace and calm.

2. Work out the best times to shop/wash/iron etc and stick to it. Stick to the plan or be prepared to switch things around. You can’t let anything slip without suffering later.

3.  Have a set time at the weekend when you get clothes ready for the next week. Iron a weeks worth of shirts in one session – that saves time.

4.  Take control of your budget so there’s some money for fun. Don’t go to events you don’t really want to go to – you can’t go to everything – you haven’t got the time or energy. Be selfish in a sensible way.

5.  A weekend at home is good but get away sometimes – a break is a great refresher and you will relax properly even though it’s initially an effort to get away.

6.  You need to get away for a while from everyone who is in the same line of business as you. Other things  besides work do exist and you need to be reminded of that sometimes.

7.  Get back to family for a little while, if appropriate. Have fun and chill with people who love you and with whom you don’t have to be anything other than yourself.

WORK

8.  Get organised – use your computer and storage boxes etc.

9.  Decide on a time when your “door is closed” and make sure everyone knows – tell people you need that admin. time to be more efficient in dealing with their work.

10.  Be firm with time wasters.

11.  With people who are not time wasters, learn to say “I really want to give you my full attention but right
now I have an urgent task to complete. Can we meet at — to discuss it”

12.  Learn to say NO when appropriate. A less abrupt way is to say “I understand that you feel that x is important but I’m sorry that I can’t make it one of my tasks/priorities. Perhaps x could help”

13.  Prioritize tasks.

14.  Use mornings to do your more important tasks – you’re fresher then.

15.  Leave phone calls till the afternoon, they can be time consuming/time wasting

16.  Only have on your desk the project you are currently working on – everything else should be out of sight.

17.  Give people a set time of day (always the same time e.g.3pm) when they can come to you withnon-urgent matters.

18.  Ask that people bring some proposed solutions as well as just the problem when they come to tell you about    something.

19.  At the end of each day, update your “to do” list to see what you have achieved and determine what is a priority for tomorrow.

20.  Write everything down – in the mad whirl it’s easy to forget things (or remember you have done them!)

21.  Carry a small pad and pencil around with you – someone always tells you something/asks you to do something   important when you’re not at your desk and can’t write it down.

22.  Use whatever time management software you have e.g. Outlook etc

23.  If you can’t contain the work to the working week, decide on a day when you will put in some extra time. Time before the working day starts is best. Have an early night the day before. Be sure to choose a day
when nobody else will be around at that time – if someone sees you, they’ll come to chat.

24.  Keep Mondays (or whichever is your busiest day) as free as possible to deal with last week’s stuff and urgent new stuff.

25.  Always take a lunch break – even if it’s only 20 minutes. Take breaks when things get tough – just 5 minutes can help you to arrange your thoughts.

Don’t tell anyone yet if you think you are floundering. You will only feel extra pressure because you’ll wonder if they
think you’re not up to the job. Give yourself time to learn. Give this new job your best shot.

Recognize that something has to give. Responsibilities take up time. Time isn’t elastic.

Remember you were chosen to do this job because of your strengths and personal qualities. It is through these that you will succeed … and you will succeed.

Good luck!

Credits:

By Elizabeth Best of “The New Managers Club”
Elizabeth Best is a management consultant and trainer. She is the author of “Great Start! – A New Managers Guide” – it’s packed with useful, real practical advice and guidance that will be invaluable to anyone beginniing to manage or starting a new management job.  Owners of the Guide get on-going support through membership of The New Managers Club, offering a wealth of management training resources – quick guides, articles & reports, case studies, training courses and much more – regulary incremented and updated. Look for her EXCLUSIVE “Starter Pack” New Manager’s Club free membership trail.