Top Tips for Becoming a Manager for the First Time
Becoming a manager for the first time is a major milestone in your career. It’s an opportunity to show off your leadership skills, build stronger connections with your team, and take on new responsibilities that can shape your professional future.
While stepping into this role is exciting, it can also feel overwhelming. You’re not just managing projects anymore—you’re managing people. The good news? You’re not alone. Research shows that 60% of new managers feel unprepared for the transition, but with the right tools and mindset, you can rise to the challenge.
To help you overcome those feelings of uncertainty and become the best manager you can be, follow these tips from our career experts.
Duties of a Manager
While the specifics of your job will depend on your company and industry, here are some core responsibilities every manager should master:
Leading others
Your primary responsibility as a manager is guiding your team toward achieving goals, whether planning projects, setting clear expectations, or providing the support employees need to succeed. Great managers go beyond giving instructions—they inspire their teams to reach their potential. Studies show that managers account for 70% of the variance in team engagement, which means your leadership style can make or break morale and productivity.
Training employees
Managers play a crucial role in employee growth, including onboarding new hires, offering constructive feedback, and creating development opportunities. Companies with strong training programs see 24% higher profit margins compared to those that don’t. Prioritizing your team’s skill-building benefits everyone: employees feel valued, and the company benefits from improved performance.
Hiring the right talent
If you’re stepping into management for the first time, hiring might be new territory for you. Whether you’re involved in interviews or making final decisions, choosing the right candidates is vital to your team’s success. Keep in mind that employee retention starts with smart hiring decisions. Look for candidates who have the skills to excel and fit well with the team’s culture.
Achieving company objectives
One of your key tasks as a manager is to connect your team’s work to the company’s bigger picture. Instead of focusing solely on day-to-day tasks, you’ll take a step back to make sure your department meets strategic goals. This broader perspective helps you make informed decisions that align with your organization’s mission.
Overseeing budgets
Managers often oversee their department’s budget, deciding where resources should go to create the most impact. Whether it’s allocating funds for a new tool or managing operational costs, financial decision-making is a critical skill. A recent survey found that 60% of managers feel unprepared to handle budgeting—so don’t hesitate to seek guidance or training in this area.
Client relationships
As the go-to person for your department, you’re likely to have increased interactions with clients. Building strong relationships with them—and making sure their needs are met—will be key to your team’s success. A satisfied client can mean long-term partnerships and growth opportunities for your company.
Advice for Becoming a First-Time Manager
Stepping into your first management role is a big adjustment, but with the right strategies, you can build confidence and set yourself—and your team—up for success. Here’s how to hit the ground running as a new manager:
1. Seek out inspiration
Not everyone starts their management journey with natural leadership skills, and that’s okay. The best leaders learn by observing and emulating others. Think about the managers or business leaders you’ve admired in your career. What made their approach effective? Maybe they were great at providing constructive feedback or excellent at motivating the team. Reflect on their strengths and apply them to your own style.
Consider finding a mentor—someone who’s been in your shoes and can offer real-world advice. Studies show mentorship can increase leadership effectiveness by 30%.
2. Prepare for a new normal
As a manager, your workday will look different than it did as an individual contributor. You might spend hours in meetings, troubleshooting issues, or guiding your team without creating tangible deliverables. That can feel strange at first.
Remember, your impact is no longer measured by your personal output but by your team’s success. Adopting this mindset shift is essential for thriving in your new role.
3. Communicate clearly
Clear communication is the foundation of effective leadership. Your team needs to understand their goals, your expectations, and how their work contributes to the bigger picture. Regular check-ins help you stay aligned and allow employees to ask questions or voice concerns.
Start with weekly one-on-ones to build trust and familiarity with your team. Once you establish a rhythm, you can adjust meeting frequency to what works best for everyone. Managers who hold regular one-on-ones are 2.7 times more likely to have highly engaged teams.
4. Delegate with confidence
One of the hardest lessons for new managers is learning to delegate. It’s tempting to tackle tasks yourself, especially if you’re used to being the one responsible for execution. But as a manager, your job is to focus on higher-level priorities and empower your team to take ownership of their work.
Delegating effectively means knowing your team’s strengths, setting clear expectations, and trusting them to deliver. Tools like task management software can help create systems that ensure consistency and reduce errors. Automating repetitive tasks can also free up time for your team to focus on more meaningful work.
5. Get to know your team
Strong managers understand their employees as individuals. Take time to learn what motivates each person, how they prefer to communicate, and where their strengths lie to help with delegation and improve team dynamics.
Adjust your management style to meet the needs of each team member. For example, one person might thrive with detailed guidance, while another prefers more autonomy. Personalized management builds trust and shows employees you value them.
Check out these additional tips for how to be a leader in the workplace!
6. Avoid micromanaging
It’s natural to want to keep everything under control, especially in the beginning. But hovering over your team can damage trust and stifle creativity. Employees who feel micromanaged are 68% more likely to leave their jobs.
Focus on empowering your team by giving them the tools and autonomy they need to succeed. Mistakes will happen, but they’re valuable learning opportunities. Instead of stepping in to fix everything, offer constructive feedback that encourages growth.
7. Prioritize respect over popularity
It’s easy to fall into the trap of wanting to be liked by your team, but being a great manager isn’t about being everyone’s best friend. It’s about earning their respect.
Respect comes from being fair, consistent, and decisive. When tough conversations arise, approach them with empathy, but don’t shy away from making decisions that are best for the team and the company. Strong professional boundaries help you maintain authority and create a culture of mutual respect.
8. Focus on building a positive culture
Your actions as a manager set the tone for your team’s culture. Whether it’s how you recognize achievements or handle feedback, your behavior shapes the environment your employees work in every day.
Consider how your decisions align with the values you want your team to embrace. A positive team culture doesn’t just improve morale—it drives engagement, retention, and overall performance.
Becoming a manager will no doubt bring new challenges, but it will also present new opportunities. Leading others can be one of the most rewarding parts of a career, so it’s a development you should feel enthusiastic about and proud of.
