5 Things New Managers Should Focus on First

One of the most exciting – and frightening – career transitions comes when you first face the prospect of a management role. Whether you’re still in the interview stage or in the wake of a successful promotion to leadership, there are a few must-know principles that will place you on a successful path. Here are five. First, establish a leadership philosophy to guide your long-term thinking. Second, to keep a handle on short-term projects, focus on the day-to-day: do a calendar audit. Are you spending time on the right things? Third, be a clear communicator. One way force yourself to be more clear is to have no more than five priorities at any given time. (You’ll notice there are only five things on this list!) Fourth, establish common values and standards. And last but not least, remember that it’s normal to feel in over your head.