First-Time Leader
Stepping into your first leadership role is an exciting milestone. You’ve excelled as an individual contributor, and now you’re ready to lead others. But success as a manager requires more than technical expertise—it’s about developing new skills, gaining valuable experiences, and building trust with your team from day one. So, where do you begin?.
Here’s a roadmap to help you prepare for your leadership journey.
Transitioning from individual contributor to manager means shifting from “doing” the work to “leading” the work. Here are key skills to focus on:
Communication Skills
Leaders communicate vision, set expectations, and provide feedback effectively.
How to develop: Practice active listening, adapt your message to different audiences, and learn how to give constructive feedback.
Emotional Intelligence
Understanding and managing emotions—both your own and others—is critical for building strong relationships.
How to develop: Work on self-awareness, empathy, and managing stress during difficult conversations or high-pressure situations.
Delegation and Time Management
Leaders empower their team by delegating effectively, freeing up time to focus on strategy.
How to develop: Start small. Trust a peer or colleague with tasks you’d usually handle yourself and resist the urge to micromanage.
Coaching and Developing Others
Your success as a leader will be measured by the growth and performance of your team.
How to develop: Learn to ask powerful questions that guide team members to find solutions rather than providing answers.
Strategic Thinking
Managers align their team’s work with larger organizational goals.
How to develop: Start looking beyond your daily tasks. Understand your company’s vision, goals, and how your team’s work contributes to success.
Leadership isn’t something you simply step into; it’s developed over time through deliberate experiences. Seek out opportunities to stretch yourself:
Take on Projects that Involve Collaboration
Leading cross-functional projects exposes you to coordinating efforts, influencing without authority, and managing timelines—key leadership skills.
Mentor or Train Others
Help a new team member onboard or mentor a peer. It builds coaching skills and gives you a glimpse of leadership responsibilities.
Lead Team Meetings or Present to Leadership
Taking ownership of a meeting or presenting a project helps you practice communication, build confidence, and showcase your leadership potential.
Volunteer for Stretch Assignments
Take on initiatives outside your usual role—like organizing a team event or tackling a problem the team has struggled to solve.
When you step into your new role as a manager, the first 90 days are critical for building trust, credibility, and momentum. Here’s what to focus on:
Listen and Learn
Before jumping in to make changes, take time to understand the team’s challenges, strengths, and dynamics.
Action step: Schedule 1:1s with your team members to hear about their roles, goals, and perspectives. Ask questions like, “What’s working well? What do you need more of from leadership?”
Establish Clear Expectations
Be clear about your leadership style, priorities, and what success looks like for the team.
Action step: Share your vision for the team and align with each member on goals and expectations.
Build Relationships
Strong relationships build trust and create a foundation for collaboration and accountability.
Action step: Get to know your team members as individuals—their motivations, skills, and career aspirations.
Balance Leading and Doing
New managers often struggle to let go of their individual contributor mindset. While you may need to contribute, prioritize empowering your team to own their work.
Action step: Ask yourself, “Am I enabling my team to succeed, or am I holding onto tasks that I should delegate?”
Seek Feedback and Adjust
Leadership is a learning process. Ask your peers, team members, and manager for feedback on how you’re doing and where you can improve.
Action step: Schedule regular check-ins with your own leader to ensure alignment and support.
Becoming a first-time manager is a rewarding challenge. By developing the right skills, gaining leadership experiences, and building trust early on, you’ll set yourself—and your team—up for success. Remember, leadership is about growth: for yourself and for those you lead. Stay curious, stay coachable, and embrace the opportunity to make a lasting impact.
