Common Trap for New Managers

Originally Posted On LinkedIn 6/23/25

Newly minted managers (new hires or promotions) often fall into the trap of trying to be friends with their new subordinates, which is a rarely successful approach. Assuredly, employees will immediately test you to see what they can ‘get away with.’

Begin your term as manager by being calm, clear and resolute in communicating your expectations of the team. Once the team recognizes that you are firmly in charge, over time you can ‘let some rope out’ as appropriate; but understand that it is almost impossible to tighten the rope if you started out soft and are perceived as weak. Think ‘firm but fair.’

When provided an excuse to fail, 90% of people will take it! Therefore, it is the manager’s job to remove their team’s excuses for failure. Accountability is everything!

If managers were to simply focus on these three things, all falls into place:

1.       Furnish your team with all reasonable tools/resources needed for success

2.       Remove any perceived obstacles preventing your team from succeeding

3.       Sole-source accountability. Meaning, whenever possible, avoid having more than one person responsible for given tasks. Then, if the task was not done, there is nowhere for this person to hide…which makes it more likely that they will get it done as you instructed.

Seeking strategies to strengthen your management ranks and increase your team’s productivity? We can help!