Starting as a New Manager? Do These 3 Things First

Stepping into a management role for the first time or even taking over a new department is a massive shift. The temptation is to start "acting like a boss" or making a name for yourself in the boardroom. If you want to succeed, you need to do the exact opposite. 

Here are the three things you should prioritize: 

1. Check Your Head: It’s Not About You Anymore 

The biggest mistake new managers make is thinking the promotion is a reward for their individual performance. From today, your success is measured by the output and well-being of your team, not your own technical skills.  Shift your mindset from "How do I look?" to "How do I help them win?"  

2. Team First: They Are the Key People 

You’ll be told you need to "manage up" and spend your first weeks meeting other directors and stakeholders. But your team members are the most important people in the building. While other managers are off having coffee with "key stakeholders," you should be with your team. Understand their workflows, their frustrations, and their goals. Build loyalty where it matters most: at the foundation. 

3. Give Yourself Time to Think: Stop the Race to Change 

The "First 90 Days" myth often makes leaders feel they need to make immediate, sweeping changes to prove their worth. This is a trap. If you change a process before you understand why it exists, you lose credibility and break things that might work. Take a breath. Observe. Listen. Give yourself the mental space to understand the landscape before you try to reshape it. 

The Bottom Line: Be the support. Focus on your people, keep your ego in check, and move with intention rather than speed.