Being a new manager comes with its challenges. You may be stepping into a leadership role for the first time, or starting at a new company. Whether you have experience as a manager or not, the first few days and weeks can make or break your success in the role. New managers must know how to establish and respect boundaries immediately in order to form healthy relationships.
Balance is key. As a new manager, it is easy to fall into bad habits while attempting to ensure that your team likes you. It is uncomfortable at first to be in charge of a new group of people, but important to remember they are also experiencing an uncomfortable change. “As a new manager you need to set the right tone. Too much friendship and you can easily come across as weak. Too much authority and you can easily alienate your people,” Victor Lipman writes in an article for Forbes.
It’s a two-way street. Although it may feel natural to come in and attempt to solve issues right away, it may invalidate the work of your employees and overwhelm them. Setting boundaries as a new manager is not only about boundaries for yourself, but recognizing the boundaries may be up for your peers. “Learning how to communicate in a way that supports and motivates, rather than solves, allows people to maintain the boundaries necessary for preventing exhaustion, detachment, and resentment,” Leah Marone writes in an article for Society for Human Resource Management.
Recognize the limits. Becoming a manager is especially challenging if you were already an existing employee of the company. You may have friendships with your coworkers and are comfortable sharing a more personal side. “That means you want to let employees know that in your new role, you need to maintain confidentiality. You won’t be able to answer all the questions all the time. At the same time, you want to assure them that you are obligated and committed to their confidentiality when they request it,” Michele McGovern writes in an article for HRMorning.
