The New Manager Podcast

Being a manager requires relational skills, because you're not just managing work you are managing people and relationships . That's why communication is so important. **After the Episode** Join the next cohort of Communication Strategies for Managers: https://maven.com/kimnicol/communication-strategies Reach out for private coaching to deepen your personal growth and accelerate your professional...

Hey, you are a human first. (Sometimes that seems to get lost in all of the conversations about leadership and how to be a good manager.) So in today's episode, I'm sharing three prompts to shift the conversation -- to center you as a human person, first. Who you are as a person, and how you're doing in your life, will absolutely influence how you lead. **After the Episode** For privat...

Why would a kind person start micromanaging people, even when they care deeply and want to do a good job? It happens more often than you might think! And it's often by accident. Managing people is a different job than being an Individual Contributor (IC). It requires a different mindset and skills -- "what got you here won't get you there," as the saying goes. Anyone can drift to...

Today I'm sharing some audio from my new course on Insight Timer: Mindfulness for Managers at Work. Having the right mindset and clear intentions can steady you through change and uncertainty. It will help you feel grounded, calm, and authentically confident. Save this for anytime you need a reminder! See the full course here: ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://insighttimer.com/meditation-courses/mindfulness-for-ma...

Disengaged. Doing the bare minimum. Quietly looking to make a move. These are all signs of being disengaged. It happens, and if you notice it in your team (or in yourself!) this episode will give you some clarity, perspective, and ideas. A recent Gallup survey identified four areas that contribute to low employee engagement numbers. They also listened to what employees say they want most from lead...

Did you know that your values inform your strategy and the way you make decisions? If you value harmony in relationships, you might decide to delay a tough conversation. If you value pitching in and helping, you might choose to be over-available and over work instead of establishing a boundary. Today we revisit Episode 57, taking a fresh look at how the way you do feedback is guided by your strate...

When you're an IC, you're making decisions about your work. When you're a manager, you're making decisions about other people : communicating priorities, allocating work, and maybe even conveying how work needs to get done, and by when. This requires looking at problems strategically, so you can make decisions with a bigger picture in mind. Let's discuss! **After the Episode**...

Today we revisit Ep. 89: People Pleasing. As a new manager, you might feel a tendency to people-please flare up.  It can get in the way by causing you to overwork (by having no boundaries), communicate poorly (by avoiding conversations or not being direct), or creating more pressure and anxiety (by ruminating).   In this episode, you'll see what creates the impulse to people-please, and what t...

People are human. They have emotions. If you care how people feel, you might over-identify with their feelings (or how you think they will feel) -- and then try to manage their emotions with people-pleasing or avoidance. So today, we're going to clarify what empathy is, and where to start so you can work with emotions better at work. **After the Episode** For private coaching on your situation...

Remember: Title and Role are not the same thing. What if you're a new manager who is managing people who are older than you? Or has more experience than you do? That's the subject of Bonus Friday episode, which was first released as episode 88 on Sept. 12, 2022. **After the Episode** Enroll in Communication Skills for Managers: ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://maven.com/kimnicol/communication-strategies⁠⁠⁠...

Workplace dynamics are multifaceted. In this episode, what starts as a question about communication skills with Gen Z becomes a more layered look at different factors that might be in play. **After the Episode** Enroll in Communication Skills for Managers: ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://maven.com/kimnicol/communication-strategies⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ Private coaching: ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kimnicol.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ Follow me on Linked...

Today's Bonus Friday episode is about what you can do, before you start managing, that will prepare you for that role. Originally aired in 2022 as Episode 84, you'll get ideas you can use today that will develop your skills of observation, learning from those around you, and gaining clarity about your own manager philosophy and leadership style. **After the Episode** Enroll in Communicatio...

Many managers struggle to let go of IC work. The thought might be, "It's easier if I just do it," or "It's faster if I do it -- plus, I know it will be done to my standards." If you'd rather do it yourself instead of explaining what needs to be done, coaching or training someone, or writing out SOPs. . . you're not alone! A recent study about how the brain learn...

Being a manager means dealing with emotions: yours, your team, even your boss(es). Today's Bonus Friday reaches into the archives for another look at this topic: Identify the Real Problem. When emotions are in the mix, you want to be sure you're solving the right thing. What's Bonus Friday? It's where I share gems that you might have missed. **After the Episode** Enroll in Communic...

Every manager makes decisions based on a combination of facts, feelings, and how they're interpreting things. Next time you're facing a problem at work, try this: separate out the facts and feelings. Then, identify the Interpretation Layer (what the facts mean). You'll get more clarity as to how you're viewing the situation and how you're defining the problem -- and possible so...

It's hard to keep track of all the conversations about AI in the workplace. So don't feel bad if you find yourself getting overwhelmed or lost in it all. I recently listened to an interview with Karen Hao , an award-winning journalist and author of the book Empire of AI. One thing she said that I wanted to share with you is: “AI is such an interesting word because it’s sort of like the wor...

Take a mindful lens to the question of work-life balance. Let's start with the idea that you are a human (first), and that work is one venue (place) where you do life. Then, consider three frames: Balance as an active relationship between dynamic forces (like breathing) Balance like cross-training for function (not every day is leg day) Ask: What part of this is personal vs cultural? Consider...

Emotions are part of being human. So naturally, they are a big part of the workplace! Learn the difference between feeling an emotion and reacting to one. You'll become more effective at work -- more grounded and less reactive to the emotions of others. And, you'll get better at motivating and inspiring your team and colleagues. **After the Episode** Enroll in Communication Skills for Mana...

This week I unbox and review "Where Should We Begin? At Work", a card deck with conversation prompts for relationships and culture at work. This deck is a collaboration between relationship expert Esther Perel and Culture Amp, an employee experience platform. I've been a fan of Esther's work for years, so I was super curious to see what she'd created for workplace relationshi...

Someone asked me how listeners find this show. I told them the truth: "I don't really know." My best guess is that you went looking for a podcast for new managers, because you had some questions about something happening at work. Or, maybe someone shared it with you after *they* stumbled upon it. In any case, you are here, listening, because you care about doing a good job. And so yo...

Leadership Orientation is on June 18. If you feel anxious wondering "Am I doing a good job?", register for Leadership Orientation and let's clear that up. You will: Identify your strengths -- so you can work with them. Uncover your values -- so you can lead with them. Define success -- so you can feel more self-assured. Through this process you'll discover more of your personal l...

Being an effective manager takes a lot of invisible work -- the emotional labor you do to help your team work well and get the work done. Mindfulness can help. Let's discuss! Read the original LinkedIn post mentioned in the episode. **After the Episode** Enroll in Communication Skills for Managers: ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://maven.com/kimnicol/communication-strategies⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ Private coaching: ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ht...

Emotions are part of the human experience, including the workplace. New managers are often surprised by the amount of emotional labor required for the job -- managing different personalities, communication styles, and expectations. If you identify as a hero or a helper, then you may put a lot of pressure on yourself, and you might measure your success based on the emotional signals of those around...

You're going to face many unexpected challenges as a leader. One of the tricky things about that is the balance between having a good foundation (skills, plan), while *also* being adaptive and making new decisions as things change. I recently completed the Neighborhood Emergency Response Team training offered by the San Francisco Fire Department, and I learned some things that are helpful for...

Every manager is expected to give feedback and performance reviews, so it helps to have a clear idea of what they are and how they are different. Most managers won't get any training or guidance on how to do this well -- so don't feel bad if it seems like you're expected to know how to do this. You're in the right place! This episode is a great place to start. **After the Episode**...