New Manager Challenges (part 3 of 3)
As a new manager, you also have a role as an influencer
In Part One of New Manager Challenges, we looked at those associated with moving from being colleague to boss, or moving to a new organization as a first time manager. In Part Two, I shared questions I’ve received about how to manage and motivate your team. Here in Part Three, we look at issues that come up around the manager’s role as an influencer and managing the corporate culture.
A Manager being an Influencer
Q: What’s the best way to convince senior management and other stakeholders that our idea will float?
· Finding an internal advocate or sponsor is always helpful.
· Knowing that you will be asked lots of questions will help you be prepared for those questions when they arise.
· Success hinges on how well your team plans for the project, even if you don’t yet know what the outcome will be. Planning is Phase 1 of Light Bulb Thinking™. One of the critical elements of Phase 1 is identifying the problem you’re trying to solve. The second is identifying the goal, what you want to achieve with this new ‘thing’ even if you don’t yet know what it is. And, thirdly, identifying the stakeholders.
Q: How do I communicate with people across the organization in a way that promotes a positive outcome?
· This partly comes down to knowing who your stakeholders are and anticipating their questions, as mentioned above.
· Knowing the company culture will help you decide who to communicate with, when, and how. As will putting yourself in their shoes to figure out what would get them excited.
· Phase 4 of Light Bulb Thinking™ is about deciding whether the solution can be implemented relatively quickly, or whether it could, or should, be further developed as an innovation. In Phase 4 you will be interacting with stakeholders as you all make this strategic decision, so identifying your stakeholders in Phase 1, Planning is vital. See above!
· Keep your team and stakeholders informed.
Managing the corporate strategy and culture
Q: How do I provide leadership and guidance to my team when the future is still unclear?
· If the future really is unclear, then view this as a blessing in disguise: the future is waiting to be created! This is a brilliant opportunity to harness the power of your team to be part of creating that future.
· Phase 2 of Light Bulb Thinking™ is Ideating; generating ideas together is fun and motivating.
· In times of uncertainty, your #1 priority is your team’s performance. Helping your team to identify the real issues that the organization needs to focus on and to solve those issues creatively is the fastest way to become an effective manager of a high-performing team.
· Outcomes don’t need to be massive; each iteration shows that your team is committed to continuous improvement.
Q: How do I navigate my team through organizational change?
· Implement good leadership qualities and actions: empathy, space for people to share, and coaching. This topic comes up regularly in my 1 to 1 coaching sessions.
· There will always be change; no organization ever stands still. Not all organizations are good at preparing for, and helping employees navigate, change. However, you can develop the leadership qualities referred to above that will help your team positively respond to those changes.
· The benefit of the Light Bulb Thinking™ framework is that it can be applied to any problem for which you seek a solution; it’s not just about creating a new product, service, or marketing campaign.
The fact that it took three posts to adequately cover the range of challenges facing you as a new manager is testament to the number of issues that could come across your radar!
Want to be a more effective manager?
Helping your team solve problems creatively is the fastest way to become an effective manager and the leader of a high performing team. If you’re looking for ways to lead your team more effectively, let’s explore how coaching in creative problem-solving could help you address your challenges. Schedule a free strategy session at https://calendly.com/ellia-harris/30min
“Ellia worked with me on brainstorming for a marketing campaign. The session was fun and inspiring, and not what I expected! Ellia used techniques which unlocked ideas that I wouldn’t have come to in the usual way. She drives the process clearly, and allows space for ideas to emerge naturally. I left with some very definite ‘Light Bulb’ moments!”