How to Make a Good First Impression on a New Job as a Manager

You made a great impression during the interview and now that you've got the job, it's time for you to impress your employees as a manager capable of providing them with leadership and guidance. Even if you're a seasoned manager, you are new to the company -- therefore, you must demonstrate that hiring you was indeed a good decision. Although you came across well during the interview, your biggest challenge might be forming relationships with your employees. Your ability to do so is critical in making an overall good first impression.

Instructions

1. Introduce yourself to your employees during an all-staff meeting; however, meet individually with employees to discuss one-on-one their personal experiences, background and working relationship with the company. You'll soon discover which employees are enthusiastic about working under your management and which ones need to be convinced you're right for the job. One-on-one meetings let you focus solely on the employee without interruptions. This conveys an important message that you value individuals and care about their opinions and feedback.

2. Embrace the company's philosophy and culture. One of the reasons the hiring manager brought you on board is because you appeared to be a good fit for the organization. Therefore, your obligation right now is to embrace the culture -- not change it. Even if you come from a company you believe has better procedures for doing business, learn your current employer's way of doing things and the ways managers run their departments before you initiate -- or worse, force -- change. One of the most difficult things for employees to accept is change, and they certainly don't want to deal with change during the time they're still getting accustomed to a new leader.

3. Establish connections with colleagues who manage other departments. This helps you develop a camaraderie with your peers who can often give you valuable advice and insight. In addition, you build interdepartmental relationships that will serve you well to solidify your position as a leader in the organizational structure. Your motivation and initiative speaks to other department leaders who value assertiveness and extroversion as essential leadership qualities.

4. Schedule a meeting with your manager to review your first 90 days with the company. If this isn't a common practice, ask her to set aside time to go over your progress to date and where you see your career heading within the organization.

References

• CIO; What to Do in the First 100 Days of Your New Job; Sam Aruti; January 2006
• Joan Lloyd at Work; First 90 Days Are Critical for Newly Placed Manager or Executive; Joan Lloyd
• Cluster4Consulting: The First 100 Days in a New Management Position. What to Do?

Resources

• The Management Advantage; Make It or Break It -- The First 90 Days at Work; Jane E. Henderson; 2005
• Business Management: The First 90 Days