Yesterday you were a colleague; today you are the manager…So what challenges might you now face? Training courses in management skills can help you make the transition from colleague to manager smoothly, but just in case your training course isn’t for a while here are three top tips from the Spearhead Training tutors…

Top tip number one is to show respect for your predecessor. If he or she was popular then it is very likely that you, as a newcomer, will be treated with a degree of scepticism or even rejection. The reputation that you are “second best” can be a hard one to shake. If you openly criticise your predecessor you risk losing your employees loyalty. Don’t do it.

Top tip number two is to remember that you were promoted because of your ability to get results. This means there will be time pressures on you. Your manager will expect you to solve the burning problems and make things happen. The key is to make sure you are prioritising and delegating effectively. Most general courses in management skills will cover these critical management skill areas.

Top tip number three is to hold one-to-one conversations with each member of your team as soon as is practical. This is necessary because you cannot continue to act as you did before. These conversations are particularly important in the case of colleagues who were passed over for promotion. Make sure it is clear what will change and what will stay the same. Being clear of your new role will help dissolve tensions. Courses in management that include counselling skills as part of the programme will also be invaluable to you.

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