The New Manager Podcast

Feel like you've hit a career plateau? Listen to this conversation with career coach Wendy Saccuzzo for ideas how to handle it. We talk about: When feeling stuck is an inner thing, or an outer thing. The connection between career stage and life stage. Creating a vision for what you want. How to use a plateau to your advantage. Connect with Wendy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendysa...

When you ask yourself "What makes a great team?", you must consider the variety of people you work with. That way, the concept of "great team" can become real -- and not just an abstract idea. What will make this team of people great? Remember that communication styles vary, so expect to adjust your approach depending on the person. That's one of the best ways for you to bu...

Being an effective manager and a great leader requires learning new skills and ways of working. In this episode, I'll walk you through three things that will make it easier for you to learn, and to tap into your own creative thinking and inherent brilliance: Time Safety Simplicity **After the Episode** Enroll in Communication Skills for Managers: ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://maven.com/kimnicol/communicatio...

These are foundational for any manager: Clarify what makes a good manager. Identify what makes communication effective. Design meetings and 1:1s, to use your time better. Do feedback better: giving, receiving, and requesting. Speak up, advocate, and set boundaries. Plan for performance reviews, facilitating change and having tough conversations. Manage up. **After the Episode** Enroll in Communica...

Most of how work gets done is through communication. Every day you're speaking up in meetings, delivering presentations, fielding interruptions, and responding to emails, chats, and DMs. To get out of feeling overwhelmed and, instead, feel more confident in getting things done, you want to take a step back and have some intentional communication strategies. Let's discuss! **After the Episo...

Being on a leadership journey requires both personal growth and professional development. The way you did things in the past, does not mean it's the best way to do things now. Learning how to look with new eyes, take a new approach, and try a new way is part of the job! In this episode, find out why you might say YES all the time (and why it's hard to say NO). Especially when you're a...

What can a new manager learn about leadership by watching the Olympics? Plenty! Three lessons that will help you be more effective in managing your team: Powerful teams have diverse strengths. Get curious about the strengths on your team -- in yourself. Excellence doesn't look one way. So don't compare yourself to others and assume your leadership style has to like theirs. Have fun and cel...

Feel uncomfortable having money conversations? Not sure what to do if someone on your team asks for a raise? Being a manager means learning more about money at work. First, bring a mindset of curiosity. By asking questions, you will build relationships, and learn more about power and influence in your org. You will also develop a more connected perspective, understanding how different decisions an...

You're going to face uncertainty. In your work, throughout your career, and in your life. Being a manager doesn't mean you always know exactly what to do -- yet you still need to lead. Today, let's talk about Three Tips for Uncertainty that will help you when you feel anxious about what's next. Be Curious / Follow the Vibe. Set an Intention. Bring Friends. For more information abou...

What does it mean to lead people first? And where do you start when there are so many skills to learn as a new manager and leader? Listen to this conversation with Chris Lin, Sr. Learning and Development Manager and host of Leading People First, and Kim Nicol, coach and host of The New Manager Podcast. Find Chris Lin through his website: https://www.leadingpeoplefirst.com/ Or follow him on LinkedI...

Why is it helpful to know about neurodiversity, if you're a manager? Because no two brains are alike! And it's estimated that 20% of the population is neurodivergent. Terri Donohue is a neurospicy coach and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion consultant. In this guest episode, she demystifies neurodiversity. Listen to find out why understanding the basics can make you a more effective manager...

Save this episode to your communication skills toolbox! Great communication makes everything easier. Over-explaining can cause the listener to tune out or get lost and confused. Here are four reasons why you might over-explain: 1) Desire to be comprehensive and thorough. 2) Building your case, in fear that you'll be challenged or not taken seriously. 3) Avoiding confrontation, and feeling unco...

When you're clear on what success means as a manager, you will have an easier time focusing on what matters and letting the rest go. This can be tricky at first, especially when you care a lot and are a high-achiever. The uncertainty of what "success" means can be frustrating and anxiety provoking. In this episode, you'll hear two questions to help you define what success means -...

Add this to your toolkit for when you're feeling overwhelmed, or asking yourself "What should I do?" Take a step back, take a breath, and ask: "What is your role?" When you care a lot, it's easy to overextend yourself, avoid difficult conversations, and overly focus on how everyone else is feeling. By considering your role here, you will get more clarity -- while also b...

No matter where you are in the organization, it's helpful to think about managing up. (Even if you are the Executive Director or CEO, you might still manage up to the Board!) Start with awareness of the power dynamic and power differential -- which can vary widely depending on the organizational culture (is it super hierarchical? or more flat?) and the personalities involved. Ask yourself: Wha...

If you find yourself suddenly having to lead a team through hard times, this is for you. Layoffs are hard on everyone -- including those left behind, who are grieving the loss of their teammates, fearing for their own job security, and feeling betrayed or mistrustful of upper management and leadership. When things feel out of your control, the ideas here will help ground you and give you an idea f...

If you're a good problem-solver, chances are you spend a lot of time looking at. . . problems. This week, ask yourself, "What's working?" To be an effective manager and an inspired leader, you want to have an accurate picture of the situation -- which means being just as mindful of the strengths and positive qualities that you are your team possess as you are aware of the challen...

Good leaders and effective managers think about strategy. They consider the desired outcome or goal, and then make decisions based on the available resources and assets, constraints and obstacles. Plus, when you become more strategic, you will feel less reactive to other people's urgency. To develop this skill, start by understanding your own strategies. Why are you doing things the way you ar...

Learn some practical strategies for communicating your point of view. You want to understand you options, because different relationships and situations will require different approaches. You will be more influential as a leader and manager when you consider nuance and options in how you choose to communicate. If you get uncomfortable with dis-harmony, conflict, or confrontation, you will love thi...

When you rise to higher levels of leadership and people management, expect to be invited to more meetings. If you feel like you're not sure when to get work done, because meetings have taken over your calendar, then today's episode will help! You'll learn a simple process you can use today to re-evaluate your meetings, so you can find small ways to make them much better. You may also n...

You can find the most valuable lessons on being an effective manager and leader from experiences you have outside of your regular work. A side quest (or side hustle) can help you tap into strengths and develop abilities that you can then bring, more intentionally, to your job. In today's episode I share the story of my time as a fitness instructor, and how it helped make me a better Director i...

Think about your career and work as being part of an ecosystem. It will give you a useful perspective for addressing problems you face as a manager and leader. Let's discuss! **After the Episode** Enroll in Communication Skills for Managers: ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://maven.com/kimnicol/communication-strategies⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ Private coaching: ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kimnicol.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ Follow me on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠htt...

Bonus episode with *video* and an invitation! Join me and career coach Wendy Saccuzzo for a live (on Zoom) Career Conversation on Pivots and Side Hustles. One of the inspirations behind this podcast is the experience I had over 12 years ago, when I was promoted to a Director role and started managing a team of my peers. There wasn't much guidance or training available to me as a new manager, a...

There will be times at work when you wonder, "WTF are they doing?!?" When you're a manger you might wonder this about someone on your team who reports to you, or your own manager and leadership team. Instead of saying that out loud, however, try asking this question instead: "What are you trying to solve for?" You want a better picture of how this person is thinking and see...

As an individual contributor, your role is to be good at your specific task or function. As a manager and leader, your role shifts -- and now you're making more decisions. When you understand how to make decisions, you'll feel more confident and less drained. In this episode you'll learn: Signs you might be avoiding a decision The real cost of "keeping your options open" Why...