| People often ask me for my thoughts on | | | | 45. Stay fit - exercise |
| becoming a new Manager. My immediate reaction | | | | 46. Make sure your staff know what to expect |
| is 'great, fantastic, go for it, it can be a great and | | | | from you |
| diverse career move', quickly followed by 'Do you | | | | 47. Make sure your staff know what you expect |
| know what you are letting yourself in for?' Many | | | | from them |
| years ago, I moved from a technical role to my | | | | 48. Know the process for dealing with difficult |
| first management role. Suddenly I was managing | | | | staff |
| a small team, being accountable for their deliveries | | | | 49. Know the latest Personnel rules / guidelines i.e. |
| / service and not just my own, as I was before! | | | | Age Discrimination act |
| Was I scared / fearful? You bet I was. I was | | | | 50. Know how to say thank you |
| scared of making a mistake, looking stupid, ruining | | | | 51. Motivate your staff by praising and giving |
| my reputation and not being able to do the job I | | | | honest feedback |
| had just been promoted to. I couldn't turn to | | | | 52. Become assertive but not aggressive |
| anyone for help, could I. Well you can't can you! | | | | 53. Ask your new team, what changes they |
| You have just been promoted and you don't say | | | | would make to improve the service |
| to your boss 'Err, I'm not too sure what to do, | | | | 54. Remove small obstacles which are stopping |
| err, can you help me?' | | | | your staff providing a great customer service |
| Don't get me wrong, great managers will always | | | | 55. Treat all your staff the same - no |
| support their staff to improve, but asking for help | | | | preferences for your friends |
| / support after just being promoted is a bit of a | | | | 56. Get on and do it - what ever it is - don't |
| 'no-no'. | | | | suffer from procrastination |
| So what do you do? Public library? Internet? Book | | | | 57. Share new knowledge / ideas gained with |
| shops? There is a huge abundance of information | | | | your peers and boss |
| available. Some good, some not so good. | | | | 58. Make your boss look great in public (and never |
| Therefore, based on my 25 years as a manager, | | | | do the opposite) |
| here are the top 101 tasks / activities you have | | | | 59. Praise your staff in public |
| to deal with and master some, now you are the | | | | 60. Be a team player |
| new manager: | | | | 61. Read your staffs most recent performance |
| | | | review |
| 1. Know how to get on with your boss | | | | 62. Never burn your bridges |
| 2. Who you should build relationships with | | | | 63. Book out an hour a day to give yourself time |
| 3. How to build relationships | | | | to think / plan |
| 4. Find out your teams services / deliverables | | | | 64. Surround yourself with great supportive |
| 5. What issues are your team experiencing | | | | people |
| 6. What does your customer feedback say about | | | | 65. Understand the teams finances |
| your service | | | | 66. Embrace and accept change |
| 7. Who are your main customers | | | | 67. If information is confidential, treat it that way |
| 8. What are the priorities | | | | 68. Develop your staff |
| 9. What are the strengths of each member of | | | | 69. Listen more than you talk |
| your new team | | | | 70. Question things you don't understand |
| 10. What is the morale like within the team | | | | 71. Go for a walk and think |
| 11. When did the team last celebrate for a good | | | | 72. Know how to delegate - fast! |
| job being completed | | | | 73. Be optimistic about your performance |
| 12. What do your new peers think of your team | | | | 74. Deal with distractions - fast |
| 13. What does your manager expect from you | | | | 75. Keep that work / life balance |
| 14. What are the key measures in place to | | | | 76. Use your initiative |
| measure your service | | | | 77. Be open to advice |
| 15. What is you 3 month / 12 month and 5 year | | | | 78. Gather as much information about the job |
| plan | | | | you can |
| 16. Where is the company going | | | | 79. Make sure you deliver your promises |
| 17. Do your staff have individual / team / | | | | 80. Hold one-to-one conversations with all your |
| company objectives | | | | staff, whether they report to you directly or not |
| 18. How well do you run meetings | | | | 81. Be comfortable with communicating the bad |
| 19. What meetings are required to manage your | | | | news as well as the good |
| team / service | | | | 82. Get rid of any thoughts that, just because |
| 20. How do you need to dress now, as the new | | | | you are a manager, it gives you the authority and |
| manager | | | | the power to do whatever you feel like |
| 21. What are your ambitions / goals | | | | 83. Help your employees get rid of obstacles |
| 22. Be flexible, courteous and persistent | | | | 84. Remember, work is being judged by how well |
| 23. Take accountability for all your teams services | | | | your team performs |
| / deliveries | | | | 85. Put in place a continuous improvement plan |
| 24. Ensure you give credit where credit is due, to | | | | 86. Take time to understand the business in which |
| your staff | | | | you are operating |
| 25. Take some risks | | | | 87. Walk about and be seen |
| 26. Grow your network | | | | 88. Don't pretend you know all the answers |
| 27. Ask lots of questions | | | | 89. Don't take all the credit yourself |
| 28. Believe in yourself | | | | 90. Don't expect employees to be perfect |
| 29. How effective are the processes already in | | | | 91. Don't ignore problems - identify and resolve |
| place - do they need changing | | | | them |
| 30. What do your staff want fixed | | | | 92. Create a sense of urgency |
| 31. You are going to have to publicly speak - how | | | | 93. Question past practices |
| good are you? | | | | 94. Identify and implement efficiencies |
| 32. What can you improve within your team | | | | 95. Thoroughly research all sides of issues |
| 33. Which of your services are highly thought of | | | | 96. Make decisions - don't waver |
| and which aren't | | | | 97. Guide others who use your services |
| 34. How do you manage your emails | | | | 98. Take initiative. See what needs to be done, |
| 35. Do you have the support of your family / | | | | and do it. Don't wait for tasks to be assigned. |
| spouse (you may be working longer hours in the | | | | 99. Buy coffees / cakes for your staff to show |
| first few weeks) | | | | you value them |
| 36. What are you going to do to relax / | | | | 100. Roll up your sleeves and get your 'hands |
| re-energise | | | | dirty' when necessary |
| 37. What is stressing you out and what are you | | | | 101. Have fun and laugh; don't take things too |
| going to do to rectify | | | | seriously |
| 38. You must be super self-confident | | | | So there you have them - 101 tasks / activities |
| 39. Get yourself a mentor | | | | you will have to deal with now you are a Manager. |
| 40. What formal training would be beneficial for | | | | You will not be able to and won't be expected to |
| you | | | | master them all. You will be expected to master |
| 41. How well do you know the companies | | | | a few. Use your natural strengths to decide which |
| products | | | | ones you are going to master and surround |
| 42. What tools do you need to be more efficient | | | | yourself with individuals who are masters in the |
| 43. What customer feedback mechanisms are in | | | | ones you are not. |
| place | | | | Then go and have a fantastic and rewarding |
| 44. Get really efficient with your time | | | | career! |
| management skills | | | | |