re: Just became a manager.

quote:

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While you need to be there for your employees, it does no help to do their jobs for them. Keep your reviews at a level above so you can actually see the whole situation. Give them chances to grow like you did, and encourage them to learn, help them through their mistakes, and if you frick up, never ask them to fix it on time that you aren't working as well.

Your job is to get the average or better employees ready for the next step, so someone can take over for you when you move up.

I struggled a bit when I first made manager because I want to lead from the front. Management does take leadership skills, but a manager and a leader do differ.

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All this. After my first promotion 15 years ago into management I felt like I had to pick up any slack to show everyone we're one team and I'm still a team member regardless of title. One of our execs pulled me aside after about a week and told me "we know that you can do everyone's job, but you're job isn't to do everyone else's job, it's too make sure they're doing it themselves." He did add that doesn't mean go on a power trip. I've been incredibly grateful for that simple conversation and the way it's enabled me to grow professionally, especially focusing on training in every aspect so that every employee had the tools they needed to be successful with our without me.