The New Manager Podcast

Being conflict averse makes it hard to speak up and share your ideas. Maybe disagreements feel uncomfortable, like something bad is going to happen. Or you worry about being wrong so you stay quiet until you feel your idea is unassailable. When you're a manager, there are times you must be direct. And, I want you to have a few options so that you can participate more readily without feeling co...

To know if you're doing a good job as a manager, you need to ask yourself: What does success look like? In this episode you'll learn 4 markers to look for: internal, external, intangible, and tangible. When you take time to define success, and know how to identify it, then success won't be a mystery and failure won't be a surprise. You'll feel more grounded and calm because you...

Being a manager is a different job than whatever you did before. Expect there to be a learning curve. You'll have to learn what the job is, and how to do it, all at the same time. In this episode you learn one pitfall to watch out for, and three things that will help you learn to be a great manager. Let's discuss! **After the Episode** Enroll in Communication Skills for Managers: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https...

This week's episode features a special guest: Kirby Nicol, my Dad. We talk about leadership and what he's learned through a long and varied career, including being a coach at the Olympics, and serving as Executive Director for The Wharf to Wharf Race. **After the Episode** Enroll in Communication Skills for Managers: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://maven.com/kimnicol/communication-strategies⁠⁠⁠⁠ For private c...

Part of your job as a manager is to give feedback. And yet, if your work has never given you guidance or training on how to do it well, you're not alone! In this episode you'll learn why it's important to have an intentional approach and strategy, and how communication skills and confidence come into play. Let's discuss! **After the Episode** Enroll in Communication Skills for Mana...

"Control the control-ables." "Focus on your sphere of influence." How does this help you be a great manager? It reminds you to look for agency. In this episode you'll gain insight to why this matters, and a few key examples to get you thinking about your own situation. **After the Episode** Enroll in Communication Skills for Managers: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://maven.com/kimnicol/communic...

How do you get out of overwhelm? This episode walks you through the story of how one client found a path out. You'll hear how she first approached the challenge, what shifted after she started coaching, and what changed as a result. You'll learn more about human-centered leadership and why self-awareness and skill are so important to creating a sustainable solution. It must begin with you....

Every manager will face situations that create feelings of anxiety. Which is why Self-Care is so important, especially when it comes to human-centered leadership. In this episode you'll learn more about how to think about Self-Care, why it makes you a more effective manager, how connection reduces anxiety, and more. Let's discuss! **After the Episode** Enroll in Communication Skills for Ma...

If you avoid confrontation, you're not alone! Many new managers are uncomfortable with confrontation, especially if you've had success by keeping a low profile, keeping your head down, and working hard to keep the peace. Being an effective communicator means that sometimes you'll have to be direct -- even if you fear confrontation. In this episode, I'll break down what a confrontat...

Being a great manager doesn't mean having all the answers. There are many times you will need to coach someone on your team, or get curious about why something isn't happening. You'll want to know how the other person is thinking, what their process is, and where they're going off course -- so you can understand how best to help. That's when to use this phrase: "Walk me th...

If you look at your calendar and feel like you don't have enough boxes of time for all the things on your To Do list, this episode will help! Learn 5 ways to think about managing your time so you feel more in control and less overwhelmed. Each one is like a lens: 1) Energy, 2) Attention, 3) Emotions, 4) Decision Making, and 5) Communication. When you see a bit differently and develop your skil...

To give effective feedback, there is one question you must ask yourself first. In this episode, learn more about giving effective feedback and why it's important to develop this skill in your career -- and the sooner, the better! Plus, if you're introvert or are just feeling a little more socially awkward these days, you'll get some ideas that will help you feel prepared for in-person...

Learn about the difference between Decision Making, Discretion, and Influence and what they can look like in the workplace. You will use them all throughout your career, and when you become a manager the way you think about them will begin to change. As a leader, you must become more aware of how you make decisions -- because it becomes a bigger part of your job, even (or especially) in times of u...

One of the most-listened to episodes is about the Support & Authority Map. It's a framework that will help you be more effective by adjusting the amount of Support and Authority (like giving clear direction, making decisions, etc) you bring to any relationship or situation. A good manager knows how to be flexible, so you can work with a range of people and situations. This will give you a...

One of the best ways to learn about how to be an effective manager is to be observant about your own experience -- just being a person and engaging with the world. In this episode you'll hear about my experience volunteering for something, and some key insights and examples I gathered about onboarding, managing people, and being a leader. **After the Episode** Enroll in Communication Skills fo...

Being more confident doesn't mean you never have doubts. It means that you can move forward even when they pop up. How? By recognizing the thoughts that hold you back, and then being curious about what might be possible anyway. In this episode you'll learn more about the sneaky thought, "What's the point?" and how to not let it stop you. And, you'll learn why now is the p...

Communicating is not just about the words you say, but the way in which you say them. Let's discuss! **After the Episode** Enroll in Communication Skills for Managers: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://maven.com/kimnicol/communication-strategies⁠⁠⁠⁠ For private coaching: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kimnicol.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow me on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimnicol/⁠⁠⁠ Become a more calm and confident leader: ⁠⁠⁠htt...

At some point you will think: "How do I get this person to. . .?" You might be thinking about your manager, and how to manage up. Or you might be wondering why a person on your team isn't changing, even though you've already given them feedback about something. When you start managing people, you need to think more about how to get work done through others -- it's no longer j...

The topic of money will almost always bring up emotions. And when you're a manager, you are pretty much guaranteed to have more money conversations. It could be when someone on your team who wants a promotion or a raise, or when you're hiring someone new. Or it might be when you get promoted and are now managing your friends -- and now can see what everyone's salary is. In this episode...

When you're a manager, you'll think about employee Engagement differently than when you were an IC. In this episode, learn why Engagement is so important, and how Mindset and Attitude play a role. When you have better understanding of what creates Engagement (or Disengagement!), you'll have a better idea of how you can address it with your team. Let's discuss! **After the Episode**...

Saying No is a leadership skill. If you want to get better at it, you're invited to my free class on The Gentle No . Many of my 1:1 clients work with me on how become more confident when and how to say No in a variety of situation. It's one of my favorite things to teach, and I can't wait to share more in class. I'll talk more about this topic later in the podcast, but if you want...

This episode is about Mindfulness as a Skill of Attention and how it can help you as a manager. Specifically, using mindfulness to help you: (1) identify early signs that something is "off", so you can address small issues before they become big issues, (2) not take things personally, and (3) apply this to managing up, down, and across. Let's discuss! **After the Episode** Enroll in...

When you're really good at something, and then start managing people, it's easy to forget that: 1) being a manager is a different job and 2) there is a learning curve. It's also easy to forget that what works with one person, situation, or team might not be effective in another -- because people vary. So if you try to be "perfect" from the start, you end up putting pressure o...

A lot of stress and overworking comes from feeling not in control, and thinking that the only way to be in control is to just do everything yourself. This is hard when you realize there will always be more things to do. It becomes unsustainable, and can keep you stuck feeling overwhelmed, always behind, and responding just to whatever is happening in the moment. Instead, you want to take time to p...

As a manager, you make a lot of decisions. When you're in a situation where things aren't going to plan, how do you decide what to do? One way is to ask yourself: Where is my growth? That will help you pause, take a more strategic perspective, and make a grounded decision. Let's discuss! **After the Episode** Enroll in Communication Skills for Managers: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://maven.com/kimnicol/c...