4 Things Never to Do When Starting a New Job as the Boss - The Muse

4 Things Never to Do When Starting a New Job as the Boss - The Muse4 Things Never to Do When Starting a New Job as the BossSo you just landed a leadership role at a new company. Congratulations Going in, you know therell be a learning curve when it comes to handling your new responsibilities. But theres also the people factor to consider. Being the anfhrer of a completely new kollektiv also means influencing a group of employees you dont know very well to work together (and with you) toward a common goal. Nerve-racking, yes. But not impossible Even seasoned leaders make mistakes when managing a new team. Here are four common ones to avoid if you want to make your transition as smooth as possible for both you and your direct reports. Mistake 1 Acting Before UnderstandingIf you think the first thing you need to do when joining a new team is to start making changes- slow down. Yes, part of your role is to help things zulauf better, and you were most likely hired to bring in some new per spectives and fix some outdated or dysfunctional strategies. But ignoring input from experienced team members- particularly those who have been at the company for a while- wont win you any fans. Instead, youll signal to your team that youre only interested in running a one-person show. And it will leave you vulnerable to making bad decisions that couldve been avoided had you gotten some context.This isnt to say that you need to form a whole committee to make decisions on every little thing. Youre the boss, after all, and sometimes its your duty to make the final call. But strive to implement changes (especially big ones) in baby steps and over time. Be receptive to (and ask for) feedback from your team before moving forward, and communicate your intentions clearly and proactively when you do.Mistake 2 Constantly Talking About the Old JobDo you find yourself saying all too frequently, At my old job, we? Maybe youre trying to prove yourself by bringing up your old wins. Or you may jus t feel comfortable referring back to a time when everything didnt feel so foreign. (Being the new kid on the block isnt easy.)Heres the thing Your current team will quickly tune you out if youre constantly talking about how things were done at your previous company. They want to see that youre able (and willing) to adapt to a new environment, and that you can competently lead and work with their unique skill sets.Yes, you achieved great things in your last role. But dont get caught living in the past- its time to focus on creating new wins with what your new team has to offer. Mistake 3 Hiding in Your OfficeClosing your office door or hiding behind your monitor can give off the appearance that youre not interested in being there for your employees.You may think, Ive told my team they can come to me any time with questions. But as the saying goes, actions speak louder than words, and it can be intimidating for employees to knock on a new boss door. Therell be times when youll need (o r want) to close the door, and thats OK- but make sure this doesnt create a barrier between you and your team.Make a conscious effort to show your employees that theyre welcome to come seek guidance or share concerns. Literally keeping your door open helps, so does providing office hours or popping your head out every few hours or so to see how everyones doing. If you work in an open office, try to avoid wearing headphones all day, and when you can, sit near your team. You can also schedule weekly touch-base meetings with your direct reports so you have dedicated face time with them on a regular basis- and so that they know they will always have the opportunity to discuss something with you. Mistake 4 Believing You Dont Need to Know the Details of Your Employees WorkSome people think that the role of a leader is to just tell others what to do and set expectations. But theres more to it than that. You cant hold employees, especially new direct reports, accountable if you dont fully g rasp what their roles entail and how they approach their work. While you dont need to know all of the nitty gritty details of their responsibilities, you want to do more than just care that tasks are getting done. Understanding the how of operations and the whys behind how your employees tackle them will make both you and your team function better. Youll be able to better manage them knowing their strengths, weaknesses, and preferred forms of communication, and theyll feel more comfortable around you and motivated to do great work with the knowledge that youre invested in their success.Take the time when youre just starting out to talk to each employee individually to learn about what they do, what their current challenges are, and how their tasks fit into team or company goals. You can even ask the following questions in your next one-on-oneWhat challenges are you facing that are making you less productive?Whats missing from the team that will help make everyones life easier? How d o you like to receive constructive feedback?What are you hoping to learn from me that will support you in your role? What do you enjoy the most about your work? Or you can have them fill out this user manual so you have all the information you need about their working style.Mistakes are going to happen when youre starting a new job, whether youre a manager or not, so dont be too hard on yourself if you dont get things right the first time. Even just reading this article means you care deeply about being a good boss to your new team- and thats a great place to be inMost importantly, make sure you enjoy this new beginning- because its one more phase in your career that will help you grow and become the kind of leader you want to be.