Which do you believe to be the number one challenge for a first time manager in the high tech, these days?

5 Comments

1. Georgene HuangMay 18,2022 at 2:25PM UTC

   I'm not sure it's so specific to high-tech per se, but in technology roles and companies, employees do have a lot of expectations and choices (partially based on the labor market and partially because there is just so much information out there about workplaces, work cultures, etc).

   That makes it hard for first time managers who have a lot of hubris or fixed notions of what good management looks like. So I would say that the biggest challenge is "learning by doing". I would advise anyone in this situation to be humble and try to emulate management practices that you have seen to be effective around you or that you have experienced yourself.

2. Alina FloreaJune 14,2022 at 12:31PM UTC

   Thanks Georgene. I retain attachement to preconceived understanding of what good management looks like.

3. AnonymousMay 19,2022 at 2:00PM UTC

   These two articles about first-time managers might help!

   https://fairygodboss.com/articles/5-things-i-wish-someone-told-me-before-i-became-a-manager

   https://fairygodboss.com/articles/from-buddy-to-boss--4-things-i-wish-i-knew-before-i-became-a-manager

4. Alina FloreaJune 14,2022 at 12:32PM UTC

   Thanks Zoe. Much appreciated!

5. Janet GrangerJune 30,2023 at 12:52PM UTC

   Understanding how to manage people - especially because everyone is different. AND managing up at the same time. It's a tightrope walk...