Fresh into a mid-managerial role? Here’s what to keep in mind

Moving into a mid-managerial role within your current organization or as a new joiner can be both exciting and overwhelming.

There is a lot you need to unlearn and learn afresh. You cannot learn to be a good manager through any standard training or just theoretically. The only way you can out-perform as a manager is through experience and some fundamental basics.

All your team members will have a different style of working, and making the most of their styles is your job as a manager. Once you are at a managerial position, you cannot have only one specific way of working. You will be required to adapt and accept each one’s way and bring them all to a common ground for them to be productive together.

Know your people and understand them. Your team will want you to relate to them at some level and if you can do so, you will win their trust. It is easier to work with a leader who you trust. As much as you are observing and evaluating your team members, they are doing the same with you. They are observing you and making a judgement of how their future with you looks.

This is one of the most important things that you will do as a manager. You need to identify the strengths and weakness of each of your team members and do a training analysis for them. Look for opportunities where you can upskill or cross-skill your people and help them grow in their career and achieve their aspirations.

As a manager, you will not be restricted to working with your team, but will also be working with multiple stakeholders within and outside the organization. This will not only help you get answers to the many queries you or your team might have, but will also help your team gain confidence in you.

It is important for managers to have regular meetings with their teams. These meetings can include quick connects, feedback sessions, organizational updates etc.

Give regular feedback to your team members to keep expectations on track and make sure the team is productive while being happy as well. Also ask for feedback and be open to hearing the same. This will help you introspect and make changes in your leadership style if required.

The role can be overwhelming and hence it is okay to talk to your colleagues who are more experienced and have been in a managerial role for a longer time. Undertake some managerial trainings and seek out a mentor who can help you transition into this role easily.

Remember, you are not expected to know it all. You just need to continuously learn and grow in your role. Focus on how you can get better by honing your skills and use this exposure to avoid making the same mistakes repeatedly.