Stepping Into the Management Role for the First Time? Here Are 6 Possible Obstacles

For some of us climbing the professional ladder and entering the world of management is a dream come true – after acquiring all the skills and spending enough time crafting our expertise, the next logical thing would be to pick the fruits and enter a state of professional development and more career opportunities. 

Surely, this journey is nothing but exciting: Being a first-time manager definitely takes a lot of courage, dedication and discipline but it’s also an incredibly exciting opportunity to craft a better version of yourself – one that is fully capable of connecting with people on a deeper level, navigate through turbulent projects and solve problems that once seemed unsolvable. Nurturing this state of mind is not only good for us – it also allows us to prepare for hardship and truly appreciate the success that is yet to come.

And since hardship is an inevitable part of the journey, it’s precisely what we’re going to discuss today – if you’re in a position of being in management for the first time, then perhaps you’re about to witness a plethora of obstacles and issues you haven’t thought of before. But it doesn’t hurt to be prepared – so let’s get right to it.

It’s Extremely Important for Aspiring Leaders to Have a Great Idea About What Management Is

The majority of us have certain aspirations when it comes to our career development. Being in management is certainly something that has the potential to spark one’s interest – as you’re piling up skills, knowledge and expertise up your sleeve, you also get the opportunity to become a leader, support people and help them accomplish better results in a variety of projects.

In reality, landing a job in management has a lot more to do with you improving your soft skills than you might think – sure, there are more professional responsibilities but what your job would truly represent is your ability to communicate with others and address their concerns. 

Essentially, that’s the main issue I often witness when talking to first-time managers – although they have gone the extra mile in terms of improving their skill set and professional work approaches, they end up surprised at how challenging it is to lead a group of people. 

So the more prepared we are for all aspects of management and leadership, the smoother our transition would be. And it’s certainly a lesson that’s better learned sooner rather than later.

Discussing 6 Possible Obstacles You Might Face When Becoming a Team Leader

Aspiring Managers May Fall Into the Trap of Thinking They Have Nothing More to Learn

A rather frequent misconception is the fact that by becoming a manager you have nothing more to learn. When you come to think about it, there couldn’t be a more alarming sign that you’re on the wrong path.

Being in management is a process that requires constant learning and self-educating mainly because the job itself is very dynamic and oftentimes turbulent. Each time a situation, an issue or a project arises, managers need to find new and better ways to navigate through them. Being rigid won’t get you anywhere – a manager needs to constantly level up their game and constantly improve both their soft and hard skills in order to be able to fully support and coordinate their teams.

You Need to Prove Your Expertise to Others

Just because you’ve become a manager doesn’t mean people will blindly follow your lead – first, you need to prove your expertise.

This realization is oftentimes disappointing for aspiring managers – caught in the haze of excitement and the feeling of success, aspiring leaders sometimes forget that the actual work is just about to begin. Gaining your team’s trust and respect is absolutely crucial for the long-term success of everybody. And in order to achieve this, you need to prove your place in management with outstanding expertise and professionalism.

You Need to Be Ready for A Lot Of Communication

As I’ve stated earlier in this piece, being a great manager greatly revolves around the skill of communication – both participating actively in dialogues and listening. 

Part of any leader’s requirements is communicating properly with their team members – if you think delegating tasks is your primary duty, then think twice. The dynamic work environment often leads to employees burning out, overwhelming themselves with different types of issues and obstacles and finding it hard to live up to everyone’s expectations. In situations like these, the manager should be the first to know there’s something wrong – and through the power of open and honest communication, to resolve the issue as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Task Delegation Might Be Not As Easy As You Thought It Would Be in Management

Delegating tasks is the first duty that comes to mind whenever we hear about management. But what’s also important is for this duty to be done right.

I’ve talked a lot about task delegation but here’s what you need to remember: Successful task delegation comes from knowing your employees, being aware of their strengths and weaknesses and being clear with all the details and requirements. Also, provide thorough feedback as this is the fastest and most efficient way toward mutual success.

Micromanagement Is Not a Dirty Word

A lot of times managers prefer to avoid micromanagement at all costs due to the belief that it cripples employees and is just an excessive loss of valuable time on both ends. 

But here’s the brilliant twist: It depends on the employees. That’s why knowing the person behind a specific job title is so important – while some people are natural doers and are extremely proactive, others might need more guidance and support along the way. It doesn’t mean either of the groups is better than the other. It just means different people have different needs. Your job as a manager is to know what makes each individual click and perform better.

You Might Need to Accept That We Are All Different

A rather toxic management trait is thinking everyone should mirror your style of work. Soon enough you’ll realize that the beauty lies in the fact that everyone has their own perspective on work ethics and rhythm.

A good manager is not someone who tries their best to change people – a good manager is someone who respects each person’s individuality and tries to incorporate it properly and efficiently for the greater (the team’s) good.

I hope this article has managed to shed some light on the topic of first-time leaders and their role in the management world. While the road ahead is not easy, it could be quite inspiring if we are willing to learn and adapt accordingly.