Becoming a manager is a thrilling but tough change. You are now in charge of more than just your own tasks. You are guiding a team, getting things done, and influencing the atmosphere at work. How you act in your first three months will greatly affect how people see you as a leader, how much they trust you, and how successful you will be in the future.
How can you gain trust, set important goals?
Here’s how to start strong and have a real effect right away.
- Get to know your team and company culture
Before making important choices, spend time learning about where you are. Watch how people in your team act, how your team works, how choices are made, and what problems there are.
Talk to each person on your team alone: Find out what they do, what worries them, and what they want to achieve in their jobs.
Know what the company wants and expects: Make sure what you do fits with what the leaders want..
- Manage expectations and set clear goals
New bosses might feel they need to make changes right away but it’s better to start by listening. Tell your team what you expect, and learn what they expect too.
Explain how you lead: Do you get involved in the details, or do you focus on the big picture? Be open about how you work.
Talk about what the team needs: What do they need from you as their leader?
Decide on the main goals: What will show the team is doing well?
- Identify ‘Quick Wins’
You don’t need to overhaul everything in your first few months, but small wins build credibility. Look for opportunities to:
Resolve an existing pain point: If something has been slowing the team down, fix it fast.
Improve efficiency: Even small process improvements can make an impact.
Celebrate achievements: Acknowledging wins builds motivation and trust.
- Actively listen and learn
Good leaders don’t just make choices; they also listen well. Remember to:
Promote honest talks: Let your team easily share their thoughts and worries.
Get feedback before acting: Find out what people think so you solve problems the right way for the team.
Be involved: Go around, talk to people, and show you care.
- Set priorities and develop a Plan
The best managers focus on the right things at the right time. Use the first 90 days to:
Identify urgent vs. important tasks: Avoid being caught in day-to-day firefighting.
Align your priorities with business goals: What’s most critical to company success – identify and focus on Quick Wins for maximum impact?
Communicate your plan to leadership: Show that you’re thinking strategically.
- Empower your Team
How well you manage depends on how strong your team is. Make a workplace where people feel helped, appreciated, and eager to work.
Give tools and advice: Be sure your team has what it takes to do well.
Let people work on their own: Believe in employees to decide things and be in charge of their jobs.
Notice good work: A basic “thanks” really helps keep everyone happy.
- Foster collaboration and open communication
A great team thrives on trust, transparency, and collaboration. Build a culture where:
Ideas and feedback are welcomed: Encourage input from all levels.
Communication is frequent and clear: Regular check-ins prevent misunderstandings.
Collaboration is encouraged: Strong teams support each other and work toward shared goals.
- Showcase your value and expertise
In your first three months aim to show you can guide others and get things done.
Show you can figure things out: Prove you’re good at solving problems.
Make your best skills obvious: Let people see what you’re good at, like making things work better, teaching people, or planning.
Do what you say you’ll do: Be reliable by keeping your word.
- Identify areas for growth and upskilling
Managers should always be learning new things. Figure out what you don’t know and work on improving those areas.
Keep up with what’s new in your field: What skills are employers looking for now?
Find a mentor or coach: You can grow faster by learning from leaders who have experience.
Help your whole team learn new skills: Good managers help others become leaders.
- Celebrate successes and build team morale
A good team environment makes people more involved, keeps them around longer, and helps them do better work. Praise wins, both for people working alone and groups working together, like finishing a project well, reaching a goal, or just doing good work.
Show you see what people do, out in the open: When you appreciate people, they stick around and want to do more.
Help the team work well together: Team wins are wins for everyone.
Don’t just focus on work; think about how people are doing: A team that’s tired out won’t get much done.
Final thoughts
The initial three months in a management position are crucial for future success. Constructing good working relationships, deciding what’s most important, and showing leadership qualities will help you be seen as a reliable and effective leader.
