Changes happen in business organizations, leading to new leaders on board to take over the existing teams without foreknowledge. Thus, assuming the role of a manager over a new team can feel like such a herculean task to anyone.
Upon assuming this new role, most managers are anxious and uncertain about what to expect from their new team. If you are in such a condition, worry no more, as Koen Vanpraet has succinctly answered every one of your questions in this piece.
From the wealth of experience, he has gathered over the years in business and management consultancy and client advocacy, Koen Vanpraet gives insights into some of the things that business managers should anticipate when starting a new role with an existing team.
What are the most common mistakes new managers make after assuming a new role?
Assuming the role of a business manager over an entirely new team could be quite demanding. Thus, you are prone to making some avoidable errors.
For one, a business manager may feel the urge to show his new team that he is the one in charge. But, ironically, the more authority you try to assert, the weaker your authority and credibility become in reality.
Another mistake that new business managers make is changing the mode of operation overnight. The already existing team members who were part of creating the past approaches may feel insulted by this.
How can a business manager win over the hearts of his new team members?
According to Gary Vaynerchuk, the author of Twelve and a Half: Leveraging the Emotional Ingredients necessary for Business Success, “Every interaction matters. Every relationship has values”.
A new manager needs to gain the trust of his new team. This is a gradual but critical process.
Gaining their trust could be achieved by getting to know your new team better, keeping in touch, and constant communication with them. It also includes celebrating their wins and encouraging them to do better when they slack.
Winning over a new team requires utmost patience and understanding, but the result is golden.
How can one effectively manage a new team remotely?
Managing a team remotely may appear to be more difficult than the regular patterns. However, when a manager sets realistic goals for the team right from the onset and gets his team on board with the goals, team members will be committed to achieving the set goals. In addition, this makes it easier for the manager to measure the accountability of members.
How can a business manager effectively develop his new team?
Simon Sinek, the author of “Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together, and Others Don’t” once said, “A star wants to see himself rise to the top, while a leader wants to see those around him rise to the top.”
To develop your team, you have to develop each individual working in the team. Therefore, do not assume that members already know their roles.
Provide them with adequate training and understand how you will evaluate their individual performances.
What are some of the challenges that a business manager may encounter when leading an existing team?
As the new team lead takes up the managerial role over an existing team, you may encounter different obstacles, generally regarded as the inherited employee syndrome. In specific, this could take any of the following forms:
- Team members may be used to following rules and procedures which do not conform with your work ethics.
- Your predecessor may have a different approach to work which your team mates are used to and unwilling to adapt to yours.
- You may experience low productivity from the team for the first few weeks after losing their old manager.
- A new manager may meet employees who are actually unqualified for their positions but were hired, nonetheless.
- There may be a high decline in the team’s readiness to work.
- As the outsider, you will have the challenge of figuring out who’s who on the team and what’s what. You need to learn the intricacies of your new role and then start learning the peculiarities of the job of every one of your direct reports.
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