Starting as a new manager can be both exhilarating and terrifying. Recently, I shared these insights with Sophia (not her real name) joining one of our customer facing teams:
1.Listen before leading. Spend weeks observing before making changes.
2.Trust is earned, not assumed. Show genuine interest in your team as people, not just producers.
3.Clarify authority without flaunting it. Address potential power struggles immediately.
4.Observe the chessboard, don’t become a pawn. Recognize informal influence networks.
5.Master the machinery. Learn processes, metrics, and customer pain points quickly.
6.Solve, don’t just supervise. Secure early wins that demonstrate your value.
7.Set the bar, then guard it vigilantly. Reinforce accountability from day one.
8.Know your champions and challengers. Identify key players and potential disruptors early.
9.Communication gaps become performance chasms. Strengthen feedback channels continuously.
10.Patience is strategy, decisiveness is execution. Know when to observe and when to act.
11.Asking for help is strength, not weakness. No manager succeeds in isolation.
At Nova, our coaching transforms these management challenges into leadership opportunities, helping new managers and leaders navigate their critical first 90 days with confidence and clarity. In today’s complex business environment of hybrid work and rapid transitions, these early weeks establish the foundation for either enduring leadership success or costly setbacks that impact entire teams. These transition periods represent both the highest risk and greatest opportunity for establishing leadership success patterns that endure.
