Question from Job Seeker:
Hi, I have just been promoted to a managerial position and I find myself both excited and anxious about my new responsibilities. I have been told that I will have to recruit my own team and I’m not sure how to go about that. Any advice?
Answer from Bayt HR Guru: Congratulations on your promotion! Worry not; you have been promoted to a managerial position because you deserve it. However, it is true that you will have to armor yourself with skills that will help you succeed in your new role as a manager. Below are steps to follow:
1. Set your goals
Try to take some time off in between roles to review thoroughly your new tasks and set your goals ahead of time. Do your research and make sure your goals are in-line with those of your manager and the company’s overall objectives. The more you can learn about the industry, your role, and your team at this stage, the more you can anticipate and plan ahead.
2. Focus on your team
A good and successful manager is one who puts his or her team as his or her number one priority. Get to know the members who are already on your team: know each person’s role; what their personal goals, ambitions, and skills are; how challenged they currently are; what problems they have had in the past; what they would like to see done differently; and what they expect from their manager.
Make sure you define the team’s mission by setting common goals and values to work by. If you have to recruit new team members, provide your HR department with clear job descriptions mentioning the required skills and desired educational background. Bayt.com’s latest poll findings on ‘Management Challenges in the MENA’ might come in handy when assessing your potential team:
- What managers want:
24.3% of managers in the region look for ‘professional success’ above all else in candidates. Team-playing skills were found to be second most important when hiring. In fact, 22.1% of managers will choose a candidate who knows how to work in a team over character (14.7%), general success (11.4%), technical skills (10.7%), communication skills (6.6%), leadership (5.5%) and academic success (4.7%).
- Main challenges:
29.9% of managers claim that the most difficult aspect of their job is managing multicultural teams, though building trust and loyalty is also considered challenging by 24.8%. According to the poll, the other areas that managers find challenging are motivating and inspiring teams (18.6%), encouraging open communications (16.2%), training and coaching (5.7%), as well as delegating adequately (4.8%).
3. Be a leader
The best leaders lead by example. Have a clear vision, solid managerial skills, maintain open communication channels with your team, be understanding and show flexibility. Make sure your team members are always challenged and working towards a common goal; keep them motivated, inspire them and give them the opportunity to grow.
Below is what employees seek, as per Bayt.com’s poll results on ‘Management Challenges in the MENA’.
- What employees want: As far as employees are concerned, the conduct they seek most from their manager is ‘open, respectful communication’, with 35.1% choosing this over other options. Also, 20% place stock in a good work environment; 16.6% want rewards and career progression; 13.4% want training and learning; 9.9% want a good work-life balance and only 5% value long-term security.
Good luck, and congratulations again!
