Being a new manager can be incredibly overwhelming. As someone who has hire and trained dozens for my companies and for other companies, I understand the feeling of being tasked with a lot of responsibility and not knowing how to handle it. To help you as a new manager feeling overwhelmed, I’d like to share are a few tips that I have found helpful and that others who are in the position you are in now have appreciate.
Overwhelm is Common
Acknowledge that feeling overwhelmed is a normal part of the transition from an individual contributor to a manager. As the French poet Paul Valéry famously said, “The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism.” Remind yourself that your role is not to be everyone’s friend, but you are being trusted by you company to accomplish more through others who report to you.
When we are new to a role, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the praise or criticism of our direct reports and colleagues, as we can forget to recognize that criticism is also a part of the job. Acknowledging this reality can help us recognize that feeling overwhelmed is a normal part of the transition to a new role.
Establish Boundaries
It is your responsibility to establish boundaries; no one will do this for you. According to a survey of over 1,000 managers by the Harvard Business Review, more than 90% of managers felt they had too many responsibilities and too little time to do them. Establishing boundaries can help protect your time, attention, and energy. This can include setting a regular work schedule for yourself, saying “no” to requests that are outside of the scope of your responsibilities, and delegating tasks to your team.
Self-Care
Take time for self-care, especially when working remotely and the temptation to check email at all hours is as close as your phone. A study by the American Psychological Association found that more than 50% of managers experienced feelings of stress and burnout. Taking time for self-care can help a new manager cope with the stress and stay focused on the task at hand. Schedule time for such as taking a walk, meditating, or talking with a mentor or coach.
Build Your Work Relationships
Build relationships with your team. You may have some direct reports you’ve known before your new role and some who are new. According to the Harvard Business Review survey, the majority of managers surveyed felt that communication and relationships with their team were the most important factor for success. Taking the time to get to know each team member, listening to their feedback, and building trust can help you as a new manager feel more connected and confident in your new role.
Get Organized
Feeling like you’ve fallen behind usually is a sign that you have delivered late or at a level of quality that did not meet expectations. Set up a system for tracking tasks, progress, and deadlines to help you stay on top of your workload and ensure that nothing slips through the cracks. Additionally, it can be helpful to have a system for tracking team member performance and progress, as this can help you identify areas of improvement and provide feedback.
Look Outside Your Sphere
Stay up-to-date with what other teams are doing inside your company and industry trends and changes taking place outside. Keeping up with the latest industry news and developments can help you as a new manager stay ahead of the curve and make better decisions for your team.
Advance Your Career with a Mentor and/or a Coach
Finally, it is important to seek out mentors and coaches. Having an experienced mentor or coach to provide advice and guidance can help you navigate the transition and make the most of this new role.
These tips can help any new manager feeling overwhelmed, but it is also important to consider the practical elements of the job and the scope of your responsibilities.
Staying organized, staying up-to-date with industry trends and changes, and seeking out mentors and coaches can help a new manager make the most of their role and reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed.
Having the right tools in place and a support system to rely on can make the transition to a new role much easier.