Lawrese Brown, the founder of C-Track Training, said, “Most people haven’t been trained for managing. It is not easy to become a manager for the first time, and there is no guidance on how to do it correctly. They either mimic what others do or are reactive, meaning something has done to them, and they were like ‘What?’ and reacted accordingly.”
First-time managers have to set expectations and boundaries for how work gets done and how people can grow within the organization. The trust of a team member is hard to earn back.
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Here are some phrases you want to avoid saying as a first-time manager:
Let Me Know When Something Comes Up
Managers should be upfront about when to communicate and how to do it based on urgency. Brown says saying you are always available sounds excellent in theory, but you will be constantly interrupted in reality, which will harm your productivity. Thus, being always open to your team impedes your career development and theirs.
It’s Time To Delve Into This Minor Detail
When you are a new manager, focusing too much on the technical aspects of your job can be your downfall. New managers should explain to their team members how their work fits into the bigger picture or plan when they reach the leadership level. There is no point in employees going down rabbit holes.
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There’s Nothing To Worry About
Brown said first-time managers are often uncomfortable giving feedback and corrections, so they often use phrases like “It’s not that big of a deal.” However, such statements do not reassure direct reports but confuse them even more. As Brown points out, managers should be upfront with why they offer feedback and what they try to correct instead of minimizing it. For example, “I don’t want you to panic, I don’t want you to feel like you’re doing a poor job, but I just want you to know this.”