Getting staff on side is essential for new managers but it’s not always that easy. Business coach, Marielena Sabatier, explains how new managers can make the right first impression.

Marielena Sabatier, CEO - Inspiring Potential

1. Take the initiative

Don’t wait for other people to set up introductory meetings for you when you first start a job – take the lead instead. Introduce yourself to your colleagues; meet with your team and your manager. You will settle in far more quickly and make a great impression by being proactive and showing your enthusiasm for the company and its people.

2. Fact find

Use your meetings to find out everything you can about your role and the company. Work out the remit of your role, your responsibilities and your objectives. Getting a clear understanding of your job from the word go will ensure you can achieve your objectives without stepping on anyone’s toes.

3. Learn from your team

Meet with your team early on. Learn from them: remember they know more about the company, its culture and process than you do. Use the meeting to get to know them and also find out what issues or challenges they face; involve them in coming up with workable solutions – this approach will be key to your success.

4. Set clear goals and objectives – for you and your team.

Communicate your goals and what you want to achieve and ensure you get their ‘buy-in’ early on.

5. Don’t be afraid to make change

You’ve been hired for your skills and experience, so be confident. If you have to make changes then do but make sure you carry them out quickly and then refocus your staff on the future of the business.

6. Communicate carefully – particularly via email

If you have something negative to say to someone , then always do it in person – there’s nothing worse than a group ‘telling off’ to make someone feel awful and make you unpopular. On the contrary, if one of your team has performed particularly well, then praise them and let everyone know!

7. Give credit where credit is due

Don’t be tempted to score a quick win and take credit for work that isn’t strictly your own – there’s nothing more annoying.

8. Avoid the office gossips

Don’t get drawn into any unnecessary politics and remember to be professional at all times.

9. Be respectful

This applies to everyone in the office whatever their level in the organisation. Get to know people as individuals and remember that everyone is a human being.

10. Be positive

Show that you have a positive attitude and that you’re someone who’s enthusiastic about work and happy to be there. Positivity is infectious, it rubs off. Happy people get positive responses from other people. Lastly, remember to smile – it doesn’t cost a thing.

Marielena Sabatier is CEO of Inspiring Potential, helping people achieve their true potential. For more career advice from Marielena, visit www.inspiring-potential.com.

For more Expert Top Tips, visit www.jobsite.co.uk/insider.

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