Advice for New Managers

I’ve been managing people for most of my adult life. I managed sailors when I was in the Navy, I managed sales people at several sporting goods stores, I managed a few restaurants, and I’ve managed an IT Help Desk. It’s been a while since I’ve been a new manager, and though I have quite a few things I share when folks are new managers, I know I don’t know everything.

So I asked the folks who follow me on Twitter a simple question:

"What your best tip for managers to be?"

What follows is what I got (first graphically, then in text for those who want to cut and paste the suggestions for themselves.

Sp0on started the advice with "Do NOT micromanage. Hire good people and trust them to do their job until they prove otherwise."

triveraguy stated: "Hire talented people whose core values are your values and empower them."

royatkinson wrote: "Pay attention to your people! (Feed ‘em, thank ‘em, & listen.)

culturalofferin offered: "Be there, wherever you are."

Melissa_U said: "Stop doing your old job and start being a manager."

txglennross shared "Team building is your #1 priority, not your team’s sales or it’s project."

markjeee said "Don’t manage people, manage their environment so they can manage themselves."

My best advice for new managers?

Admit you don’t know everything and ask for help when you need it…just like I did when writing this post :)

And now I’m asking you, dear readers:

"What your best tip for managers to be?"

Please share your suggestions in the comments, so we can help those who are about to become managers. Thank you!