The New Manager Podcast

When you're a manager, you might feel caught in the middle between leadership and your team.  I think of this as the "squeeze", when you feel like everyone is unhappy and you can't figure out how to solve it.  Your manager is pushing you for more, while your team is struggling with their workload, and you're hearing it from both sides.  What to do?  In this episode you'll...

Ever been told you need to "toughen up" or be harder on yourself?  Have you noticed how that approach tends to create more self-judgment, resistance, and stress?   When being hard stops working, go to Compassion.   Managing people is hard enough without the extra pressure from an internal critic.   When you call in Compassion, it makes things easier so you can move forward with more ease...

Being a great manager doesn't require you to be a hero.  But sometimes I see my clients slip into that mindset.   It often looks like perfectionism, and anxiety about how others see you.   It leads to overworking, isolating, and being overly responsible.   It also creates a lot of pressure, feeling like everything is on your shoulders and it's up to you to keep everything together (no mist...

Ever feel like you need to "push back" but don't know how?  When you're a manager, there are a lot of times this comes up:  you might get a request from *your* leadership, or be in conversations with another team about who will do what.  If you've ever felt like you didn't know how to push back, or you are just highly conflict avoidant, this episode will help you.  A smal...

When you feel frustrated, how you identify the problem is everything!  Because the way you see the problem will limit the solutions you find.  And when it comes to working with humans, it's important to not fall into the pattern of blaming people and personalities.   It's easy to do, especially when it's a communication issue.  But doing so will keep you stuck and feeling helpless.  In...

Feel like you're struggling as a manager?  Are you doubting yourself, feeling like maybe it's not a great fit?   In this episode we look at three things that can be a factor:  your work environment, your sense of agency, and your autonomy.   Work environment includes physical things (e.g., furniture, lighting, etc) as well as the culture of your organization.   Agency is your capacity to t...

As you rise in leadership and managing people, you'll need to hone some specific communications skills.   Advocacy (for self and others), speaking up, having tough conversations, being direct, giving feedback, and establishing boundaries.   To do that, you need more than information about what to say -- you need to grow your mindset so that you will apply what you've learned in an authenti...

Ever heard the saying, "You don't get what you don't ask for."?  Many organizations are happy to pay for professional development for their people -- especially new managers.  After all, when you learn how to be more confident and do your job better. . . you do your job better, and the organization directly benefits.   But how exactly do you make that ask?   A lot of my students...

What do you do when you need to have a tough conversation, but you're afraid of conflict?  One of my listeners submitted this question, and it's something that many new managers struggle with.  Today I'll walk you through two steps to think about, so you can move forward.  Let's discuss! **After the Episode** Enroll in Communication Skills for Managers: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://maven.com/kimnic...

Learning how to work with emotions is one of the most valuable skills you can develop as a manager.  It will make you better at managing up, managing your team, and managing clients.   It's also a key to understanding why you might be avoiding tough conversations, or giving feedback -- because you're worried about the emotional response from the other person.   In this episode you'll l...

Being a great manager means developing your relational skills -- not just communication skills, but an understanding of how to effectively manage different personalities, have tough conversations, and think strategically.  In this episode you'll get three questions to help you start the new year right.  When you know when, why, and how to use them, you'll be better prepared for whatever co...

If you've ever felt tension with someone at work, and wasn't sure how to handle it, this episode is for you.   First, I'll walk you through the foundation of all my work -- being Present, Curious, and Kind -- and why it's so effective in a range of situations.   Then, I'll share an approach to tension at work that puts you in the position for being most influential and thinking...

Have you been in a situation where someone asked you a question, and it felt weird?  Maybe you weren't sure how to respond, or weren't certain of the person's intentions.  Maybe you felt nervous and your mind went blank.   When you're a new manager, you'll be asked questions a lot -- and you might think that your job is to answer quickly with the correct answer.  But it's n...

Back in November I taught a workshop on Boundaries with Love, and in today's episode you get to hear the replay.  Just in time for the holidays.   Great managers have a solid working understanding of boundaries, and know how to use them to create more trust (and keep themselves out of over working).   You'll also use boundaries to create great relationships in your personal life, too.  In...

For the 100th episode, first we celebrate!  Then I talk about Data, Story, and Emotion.  When you understand how these three elements work together, you will become a more effective manager.  Think in terms of how data, story, and emotion work and you will be more influential, a better communicator, and have more confidence in your own decisions and manager style.  Let's discuss! **After the E...

As you rise into higher levels of responsibility and visibility, you may start to get feedback about "developing executive presence."   If you've ever felt confused by what that means, you're not alone!   It's rarely something we learn about early in our work life, and it's often not described in much detail.  So it can seem elusive and ambiguous.   In this episode, I bre...

When you manage people, it can be hard to know if you're doing a good job!  And if you're an achievement-oriented person, it's easy to feel frustrated or discouraged when you don't know how you're doing.   In this episode, I walk you through a process for thinking about this.  So you don't have to feel adrift and uncertain, and can keep track of how you're doing as a ma...

Do you have a high performer on your team, and you aren't sure how you're supposed to manage them?  In this episode you'll learn about three common pitfalls to be aware of:   1) Neglect 2) Self-Doubt, and 3) Over-Reliance.   Plus, suggestions for what to do if your team member seems frustrated or impatient for a raise, or is looking to you for guidance on what to do next. **After the E...

Being a new manager requires a new mindset:  the way you think about your role, responsibilities, and challenges.   There are three mindsets that new managers often adopt, that can be unintentionally limiting:   1) Do more of the same, 2) Do the opposite of what you've seen a bad manager do, or 3) Do what works best for you, personally.   These will get in your way because:   1) What got you h...

Reflection Questions are not about having the "right" answer, or giving an answer that will gain the approval or praise of someone else.  The beauty of Reflection Questions is they help you to think a bit differently about your own experience, so you can see your inner wisdom and gather your personal insight.  In this episode I share 6 Reflection Questions that will help you think about...

Managing people isn't just about managing tasks and work -- it includes managing personalities, shielding your team, and more.  There's a new level of emotional labor that comes with being a leader and people manager.  It's also common to feel more isolated and lonely as you gain more responsibility, and feel like you have to be more guarded about what you share and who you can talk wi...

Great managers learn how to be present.  It helps you build trust, and stay grounded and calm so you can be responsive instead of reactive.  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/kimni...

"What do other people think of me?"  If you have a tendency to be a perfectionist (and, thus, very self-judging), high empathy or people-pleasing, this question may pop up a lot in your mind.  It may activate your anxiety, and have you holding yourself back as a way to play it safe.  But there's another way to look at this -- a small shift in perspective that can grow your confidence...

Where does confidence come from?  And if you receive feedback about being more confident at work, how do you do that?  In this episode you'll learn the difference between Performative Confidence and Authentic Confidence, and why knowing where the basis of your confidence is, is so important.  Let's discuss! **After the Episode** Enroll in Communication Skills for Managers: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mave...

Bonus episode!  "You don't get what you don't ask for."  Learning how to ask is a skill.  You can get better at it.  Even if you're an introvert, conflict-avoidant, or just don't like asking anyone for anything.   **After the Episode** Enroll in Communication Skills for Managers: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://maven.com/kimnicol/communication-strategies⁠⁠⁠⁠ For private coaching: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https:/...