Question from a first time manager
If you had to pick just one of the 9 “Must-Have” Skills to learn as a first time manager which one would you pick as the most important to learn and practice?
Best answer: Informal coaching
Here’s why. Many times a first time manager focuses on doing the work that they are good at doing rather than coaching their new team members to become successful at doing that work. Here are nine more reasons that informal coaching should be the number one skill for a first time manager.
1) In your new role it is important to begin building your bench strength so that you are poised to take on newer business challenges, regardless of whether that means another promotion beyond your role as a first time manager.
2) The more successful you are with coaching the less likely that you’ll need to practice formal disciplining. It enables you to “nip things in the bud” as a first time manager.
3) Informal coaching goes hand-in-hand with the skill of scripting. Increase your learning in one skill and you impact the other. Although there is a vast difference between gumbo and speckled jawbreaker gumballs (pictured) the skills for coaching and scripting are closely aligned.
4) By practicing coaching you automatically are moving away from doing the work that your people should be doing. This is a fundamental perception shift from being an individual contributor to the move into basic supervision. And it is critical that you make this transition in your thinking as a first time manager.
5) Practicing coaching means you are not practicing becoming better at doing the work, too. Your new role as first time manager is to be the team leader, not the expert doer.
6) Strengthening your ability to establish expectations (a subset of informal coaching) with candor, while not being heavy-handed is a core trait for successful leadership. Failing to establish clear expectations is a common mistake for many first time managers.
7) The insight you gain about “catching people doing things right” – a subset of informal coaching – is something that you can use when it comes time for delegating.
8) Learning and practicing the three-part direct coaching cycle – another subset of informal coaching – is something that will serve you well in fulfilling dynamic changing jobs and advancing in your role as a first time manager.
9) Remember the Pareto Principle (AKA the 80/20 Rule)? Coaching represents less than 20% of the 9 skills which will get you more than 80% of the results. You’ll use it in practicing all 9 skills as a first time manager.
About Glenn
A former principal of Greenfield Development Group, he has led teams of people in large and small businesses as well as non-profit organizations. Glenn has facilitated more than 2000 boot camps, workshops, webinars and seminars on a wide range of leadership and human resources topics. His educational credentials include a Master's degree in Organizational Behavior from the University of Texas at Dallas.