<p>Congratulations! You were appointed to your first management position. You're getting new business cards, a raise and a bigger workstation. Your boss spelled out your new duties, too. It's a cause for celebration!</p>
<p>But it's also a cause for caution.</p>
<p>There are realities about being a manager that your boss probably didn't divulge. And these changes to your work environment will give you headaches if you're not prepared for them:</p>
<p><strong>1. There is no routine to management work</strong></p>
<p>Changes are that your old job came with a familiar routine. You performed the tasks assigned to you and you did them in a prescribed order. Some things had to be done by noon, while others had to be completed before you left for the day. As a rule, when the day's work was done, your day was over. But for managers, there's no such thing as "the day's work," so bid a fond farewell to routine.</p>
<p><strong>2. People and issues arrive unprioritized</strong></p>
<p>As manager, you now have more people and issues to deal with. It's your job to filter them for urgency and importance, and help employees stay focused by doing the same.</p>
<p><strong>3. People start acting differently towards you</strong></p>
<p>You're still the same person, but you're in a different role. Some people withdraw from you; others want to get closer. Ultimately, your employees are dealing with managerial change in their own way and trying to figure out what kind of manager you really are.</p>
<p><strong>4. You have to give up your old job</strong></p>
<p>You have a new job so don't hang on to your old one. This can be hard. After all, it's because of your previous success that you've been promoted. But failure to let go of your old job causes more problems for first-time managers than anything else.</p>
<p><strong>5. You now have power</strong></p>
<p>In the eyes of your employees, you have enormous power. For them, your signature is their gateway to the organization's rewards and incentives: vacation, training, salary actions and so on.</p>
<p>Also, your employees are unsure of how you're going to wield your powers and so they may act differently towards you.</p>
<p><strong>6. Guard against the perception that certain people are your favourites</strong></p>
<p>Yesterday you had co-workers; today you have employees. While it's only natural to like some individuals more than others you no longer have that luxury as manager. Employees are keenly aware of who has direct access to you. In the past, you had coffee or lunch with the same people every day, but if you keep this up, your employees will earmark these people as "your favourites."</p>
<p><strong>7. Employees want their manager to manage them</strong></p>
<p>Employees don't want their manager to be a pal. Friendly behaviour is great, but it shouldn't be a substitute for good managing.</p>
<p>Your employees will also expect you to deal with poor performers at work. You need to demonstrate that you won't tolerate poor performance. If you're fair and decisive, your good performers will give you their hard-earned respect and best effort.</p>
<p>You lose some things when you become a manager (that's something else that your boss didn't tell you), but you gain more than you lose. Just remember that not only has your job changed, your workplace relationships have changed, too. The managerial world may be uncharted territory, but with these seven changes in mind, you'll navigate it easily and successfully.</p>
<p>Dr. Tim Rutledge, Partner, Retention Services, is a veteran Human Resources Development practitioner with a background in financial services, manufacturing and health care. For more information about Tim Rutledge, and IQ Partners please visit their website at <a target="new" href="http://www.iqpartners.com/index.html">www.iqpartners.com</a>.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
