How To Navigate Leadership as a First-Time Manager

Notes from my speaking engagement with Youthquake, back in August. I was inspired to share some lessons from my experience as a first-time manager, and particularly tips to help anyone who may have just landed their first managerial or supervisory position.

Like many young people starting off in a company and industry like mine, I looked forward to progressing in my career; completing the early-tenure career program we had in the company for engineers, and someday becoming a manager.

Then, boom, I became one, and very quickly realized that I had the responsibility of helping lots of people — my team, peers, and even superiors — navigate their careers, stay happy and engaged on the job, receive the right feedback on their performance, earn a well-deserved promotion, realize their full potential as employees, professionals, or stakeholders in the organization, and equally helping my company deliver outstanding results — financial and otherwise.

This was certainly not an easy task. Yea, managing — business plus people — is very hard! I was never really prepared for it, even though I had read what seemed to be like a lot of literature on the subject of management; I had led a number of initiatives and teams in other supervisory positions; and I had significant technical experience. It felt like I had been thrown into the Atlantic Ocean, and asked to swim, amidst sharks. But it was an absolutely fantastic learning experience! One that I am incredibly grateful for.

So, how do you navigate that phase of your career?

1. LEARN, UNLEARN & RELEARN: As a manager, or preferably, leader of a team, that’s perhaps the first thing you need to know. You need to learn a lot — for example, you need to learn about: the job you have been given, how you will be appraised, what the priorities are; your team - you’ve got to schedule moments to connect with them, learn about their experiences, their needs, expectations, and how to support them; how to manage conflict or have difficult conversations; how to ask questions with sincerity and curiosity; how to engage your customers and other stakeholders; the industry - the trends, challenges and opportunities for value creation and capture. You need to also learn from the mistakes you make, as you find your rhythm on the job. You have to unlearn your biases — conscious, and unconscious, affinity or likeability bias, etc. You have to relearn skills that will help you deliver performance and create a workplace that enables your team to thrive. The skills that you had as an individual contributor aren’t likely to serve you as a manager; you will need new skills - effective communication, diplomacy, emotional intelligence especially empathy, leveraging your team strengths to deliver the goals - in your arsenal.
2. FOCUS ON THE BIG PICTURE: Things will get difficult and tough; and, I can say that with so much conviction and confidence because I’ve been there multiple times now, and I know how difficult management can be. You will get bored, you will be frustrated, you will be depressed, you will be discouraged, stressed — all sorts; but never lose sight of the end goal. You must articulate and visualize the big picture — the why, the what are you there to accomplish, and perhaps the how you intend to do so — and ensure that you and your team stay aligned on the vision and objectives of the company. And, remember that this is only a phase that is equipping you with the competence, character, capabilities, and capacity you need for assignments and roles with greater responsibilities, and influence. Do keep in mind the fact that diamonds are made under pressure, oaks grow strong in contrary winds, and all things work together for good to them that love GOD. 1 Peter 4:12–13 also encourages us to hang in there, when the going gets tough, as they sometimes will, cause the glory is just around the corner.
3. BE OPEN TO ASKING FOR HELP: It is okay to reach out to someone and ask for help! As you adjust to the demand of your role, reach out for help. Whether it is help in the form of mentorship, a piece of advice or wisdom, an introduction to someone that can help you tackle a challenge or advance. Even the Bible says, ASK! In James, you are encouraged to ask, when in lack of wisdom. Seek guidance from trusted peers, mentors, your manager, a network (could be yours or one established by the company) of advisors/experts, and even your reports. I have been in situations where I didn’t know what to do, how to respond to a question/concern, and one of my reports could help. I had no shame admitting that I didn’t have the answers, and going to meet that person to ask him to guide or teach me. I would ask as many questions as possible — clear and smart questions, I’d have to admit — and get the answers I needed to make the right decisions or craft the best response to queries from anyone external to my team. Such honesty, humility, and often times, vulnerability always yielded real benefits. Bonus — you have to be intentional about networking, which is simply about building real relationships with people who can help you. As Christians, that network certainly includes GOD, the hosts of heaven, and your brethren in Christ.
4. FIND & INCORPORATE IDENTITY ANCHORS: Take time to identify those things, exercises, activities that you derive a boost of energy, confidence, self-esteem, motivation from or that help you gain a sense of belonging and purpose, and incorporate them in your daily routines. They could be hobbies/interests/projects/sports that bring you fulfilment, joy, inspiration, or motivation on a regular basis. This could have a positive impact on your physical and mental wellbeing.
5. BUILD IN MOMENTS OF REST/RECOVERY: Here is one more thing that had a huge impact on my wellbeing, albeit learned in a pretty hard way. You have got to be intentional about resting well, building moments of relaxation, or recovery into your day-to-day routine. And here is why — you need to be mentally balanced, well, and wholesome to lead/manage right. Research has shown that workplace performance improves after a period of rest and recovery, even among people who enjoy and love the work they do. You are able to do your best work, increase your productivity, and minimize your exposure to depression, heart attack, or other cardiovascular ailments. Remember, even GOD rested, whilst working and managing HIS team to accomplish the goals HE set for the world.

What has worked for you? Please, feel free to share — I would love to learn from you as much as you learn from me. Thank you.