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Leadership & Communication

Leadership skills for managers at new companies

29 Oct 2013, by Informa Insights

From Technical Professional to Manager and LeaderIf you’ve recently accepted a managerial position at a new company, you’ll no doubt be keen to show your leadership skills from the outset.

There are several challenges that managers must face when entering a different workforce, so asserting your authority quickly is going to be high up on the agenda.

Here are some top tips to boosting your leadership development and making the most of your new opportunity.

Identify employee strengths and weaknesses

One of your first missions in charge will be to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your team.

This could vary dramatically depending on the leadership skills of your predecessor, the amount of formal training provided and the personalities of the staff in question.

After assessing each employee, discuss with them their career aspirations and attempt to guide them in the right direction for both themselves and the company.

Set goals and communicate them clearly

Typically, new leaders are brought in to shake things up a bit, particularly if they have been hired from outside of the company.

While change can be good, you may face opposition from existing staff members who have become familiar with a certain way of working.

To overcome this, outline goals and communicate them clearly – you need to establish what will change and the expectations you have of your team in making this happen.

Be prepared for resistance, so try to inspire your staff to share your vision.

Put out fires

A quick way of establishing your authority as a new leader is to rectify any problems that may have lingered under the previous administration.

Talk to employees about gripes that have been left to fester and try to resolve them quickly to impress your superiors and show your team that you aim to get things done.

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