21 Tips For New Managers

As an in-class assignment the last day of the semester before finals, I asked each student to write down five tips they would give new managers after taking my class on business management. I found it a good way to wrap up the course. As you can see below, they had great advice.

• Keep up with the latest laws and regulations on employment.

•  Be consistent in how you deal with employees.

•  Don’t discriminate when hiring and promoting.

•  Document! Keep a paper trail of anything that could be a problem later.

•  Be open to change and help your employees be open also.

•  Approach conflict between employees with an unbiased mind, assessing the facts before deciding what to do.

•  Make sure your interviews and pre-employment tests are job-related.

•  Network as much as possible.

•  When hiring, make sure there is a good employee/job fit and employee/organizational fit.

•  Train and evaluate your employees to make sure they understand their tasks and responsibilities.

•  Be professional. Remember impression management. 

•  Get to know your employees but don’t give personal advice.

•  Pay your taxes.

•  Honesty really is the best policy.

•  Assume your employees are Theory Y employees (they want to work and are motivated by challenge, responsibility, etc.) unless they prove themselves otherwise.

•  Conduct a thorough background check in the pre-employment process to prevent negligent hiring.

•  Be internet-savvy.

•  Show employees that you appreciate their hard work.

•  Be on time, be professional, and don’t be in a hurry to leave exactly at quitting time.

•  Dress every day for the next position you’re seeking.

•  Have fun! Work hard and play hard.

I've posted this list on their class weblog so that they can print it for use after they graduate. Any suggestions of other classes that could use this technique to summarize what students have learned?

 

 

 

Comments

[E]

One of the best pieces of advice I received was from the deputy commander of NSA before he retired in 2000. I asked him what advice he could give us after 31 years in intelligence and he responded quite simply, "All work is honorable." This has been good advice. It's reminded me that from the garbage man on up, each should be honored (or respected) for what they do and treated with respect. I've ran into retail (business) managers who fail to recognize this in regards to their employees and treat them like hourly slaves with no respect for what they do each day.

[Dr. Delaney Kirk]

Great advice! I once read about a company that gave everyone including cleaning staff, maintenance people, etc., a business card. Showed that they respected them and what they did for the organization. Thanks for commenting.