Set Yourself Up For Success

So you’ve just been promoted to manager. Congratulations! You might be feeling a little overwhelmed, afraid to fail, and not 100% sure what you’re doing—don’t worry, it’s normal.

You can set yourself up for success by talking to a few experienced managers.  Invite them to coffee or lunch and ask for advice. Ask them about the challenges and rewards of the job, the mistakes they have made, and how they handle tough situations.

If you don’t have access to managers, don’t worry, you’re still the greatest predictor of your success. Try defining the type of leader you want to be: 

1. What qualities do you like in a leader?  Maybe someone who listens and sets clear expectations. Maybe someone who coaches and unleashes potential.

2. What do you dislike?  Maybe micromanagers, or people who play favorites.

3. What behaviors will you repeat or avoid? Maybe you want to hold regular 1-on-1s with each team member or avoid sharing your ideas until everyone shares theirs.

Leadership can seem difficult, but when you consistently act on one behavior each week, your efforts will pay off in the long run.

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Leading people is vastly different from working as an individual contributor. Download our latest guide to make the mental leap to leader:

About the Author

Leena Rinne is FranklinCovey's Vice President of Consulting. She is responsible for the management and development of the consultant team and the ongoing world class delivery of FranklinCovey programs and solutions. Leena is co-author of the Wall Street Journal bestselling book, The 5 Choices: The Path to Extraordinary Productivity, and also co-authored the forthcoming book, Leading Customer Loyalty: Cracking the Code to Customer Devotion. Currently in her 14th year with FranklinCovey, Leena’s passion lies in supporting client to develop great leaders and create winning cultures.

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