Tips for recently appointed managers

Dr Inge Hill, Lecturer in Entrepreneurship at The Open University’s Business School, shares practical insights for recent managers and those keen to update their knowledge in an interview.

What are the key challenges that managers face today?

COVID-19 has significantly changed the way we work, with more homeworking having become a ‘new normal’ in many but not all industries. Hence, managing teams over distance and online requires different skills and resources to maintain an effective relationship with team members. The future of work will be different for different people and organisations, and a wide set of competences are needed to manage change successfully.

Another important topic is managing diversity successfully and recruiting for distinctive teams. Fair recruitment features highly on managers’ agendas. For the latter to be successful, becoming or being aware of your identity as a manager and leadership style are highly important.

What recommendations do you have for people who are new to management roles?

Transitioning into a management role can be both exciting and challenging. Here are some key areas to focus on early on:

• Invest time in building relationships with your team. Identifying their strengths and weaknesses, what energises and depletes them, what matters and where they want to be in five years. These insights will help you lead more effectively.
• Quality communication is key. Be transparent and actively listen. It can be helpful to summarise and reflect back what you’ve heard so they feel acknowledged.
• Supportive performance management includes being supportive and having difficult conversations. Establish clear expectations, and a safe space to share accomplishments and failures.
• Our people management and leadership microcredential offers the opportunity to learn about leadership styles, approaches and recent management topics. This self-paced 10-week course offers you a supportive peer-learning environment, new knowledge and direct feedback online from a study mentor.

I wonder if you could you share more about why it’s beneficial for managers to embrace diversity?

Diverse teams foster organisational innovation and creativity, as they bring together a variety of perspectives and experiences. These different experiences and individuals add value to mirroring and understanding the variety of customers and markets, which can lead to improved organisational performance.

Inclusive environments in which individuals feel respected and accepted for who they are can improve employee retention, as individuals feel valued, which often motivates them to give their best.

In your view, how can new managers effectively balance their responsibilities, especially when faced with competing priorities and tight deadlines?

Balancing responsibilities can be tricky. Here are a few things new managers might want to consider:

• Figure out early what needs to be done urgently and what's most important. Then prioritise on what really matters most.
• Delegate responsibilities wisely. Actively involve team members in decision-making processes to value their perspectives and promote collaboration.
• Make sure to talk openly with your team about what needs to be done and when. Good communication keeps everyone on the same page and helps avoid misunderstandings.

Are there other competences you regard as essential for successful people management?

In addition to the skills and behaviours discussed, strategic thinking, solving problems, and planning ahead are essential for successful leaders and managers. Resilience and change management competences are so important, as we have to navigate constant changes, whether from technology, markets, or unexpected events.

Develop your people management and leadership skills with the OU

Created by the OU’s triple-accredited Business School (AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS), Business management: people management and leadership is a 10-week course designed for anyone who wants to be an effective and inclusive people manager and leader.

Key features:

• Explore case studies from managers in different industries and gain transferable skills
• Receive feedback from a study mentor in online discussion forums
• Benefit from peer support and learning when sharing experiences and challenges
• Requires 10 hours a week for 10 weeks; course costs: £500
• Next courses start on 8 July 2024 and 28 October 2024.

Learn more

You'll learn important management tools and techniques, and how to support your team with care. Your self-reflection is supported by peers and a study mentor, allowing you to reflect on previous achievements and consider possible changes to your management practice. The practice-focused assessment includes designing a personal development plan to grow as manager and leader.

Dr Inge Hill
Course Lead Educator, Business management: people management and leadership

Learner feedback

Great course! There is a lot of thought-provoking content in this course. It has really helped me reflect on my skills and learn new knowledge! As someone who is in middle level management but never studied a business or management course before I will be referring back to it a lot. I will definitely take these concepts forward and hone my leadership skills. It has been interesting seeing the insights of my fellow learners and that has made it extra worthwhile.

Despite the virtual nature of the classroom, the class culture has been incredibly positive, supportive, and engaged. I have felt encouraged to take risks and be vulnerable, and fellow learners have consistently provided the support I needed. The course content has been exceptional, and the structure of the instruction has been flawless. Participating in this course has greatly enhanced my leadership practice, and I have felt more grounded as a result. I will look to adopt most of what I have learnt over this course into my current role as a people leader.

Many employers find short courses like microcredentials valuable for quickly upskilling and reskilling staff in just a few weeks. See the full list of professional development courses.

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