Greetings confused people! Or should I say “managers-in-training?” My name is Risto and I am here to guide you through the tumultuous terrain of first-time management.

I know the view is quite scary from up here, isn’t it? Suddenly, you’ve swapped your comfortable workstation for a creaky office chair, and you’re staring down the barrel of responsibility at a team that used to be your comrades-in-arms. Heck, you used to share Friday drinks with Tim, and now you’re responsible for sharing his performance reviews! Oh, the humanity!

Ah, you see, my friends, that’s the funny thing about stepping into the world of management: it’s like taking a dip in a pool of advice – after a sauna session, extremely cold, overwhelming, and you can’t see the water from the shivers. Words of wisdom come flying at you from all directions, and let’s be honest, some of it is as useful as a chocolate teapot. And then there are those among us who are not even fortunate enough to have managers who can train us properly. We are like Simba, thrust into the wild to learn the ways of pride.

But never fear, my friends, for I am your Rafiki in this story. After serving as a manager in various companies and industries, I’ve gathered a medley of experiences and I am here to share my hard-earned wisdom with you. It’s free! And remember, when advice is free, take it with a grain of salt! Or a bag, you choose.

Lesson one, dear grasshoppers: Never take advice at face value, especially not mine. One size does not fit all in the management world. Find your style. Find what fits you. Be the cowboy boot or ballet slipper of management if you want. Just make sure it’s a style that suits you and your team.

Now, reading books on management might help, but please don’t treat them like holy texts. I’ve seen managers who try to mimic someone else’s style like a teenager trying to imitate their favourite pop star. The result? A squawking parrot who drives the team bonkers, or drunken company karaoke party that no one really want to attend.

Listen here, and listen well: never, I mean EVER, be a micromanager. No one likes a pesky fly buzzing in their ear all day, do they? Transparency, on the other hand, is a virtue. Share information, and let your team in on the bigger picture. It’s like inviting them to a party, but the party is a project, and everyone’s on the guest list. Let’s face it everyone want to invited and belong!

And while we’re on the topic, remember, lying is about as useful in management as a decaffeinated coffee on a Monday morning. It’s just not going to work and it also a waste of time. If you think your team won’t find out, think again. They have a sixth sense, like Spiderman, only instead of dodging villains, they’re dodging managerial BS.

As a manager, your job is not just to listen, but to understand. Hear the groans, the complaints, and yes, even the office gossip (but do not engage in them!). Let your team vent. Remember, we are all humans, not robotic corporate zombies.

If you’re plotting a strategy, involve the team. It’s like planning a heist, only less illegal. You’re in it together; if you win, you win together, if you lose, you lose together. But let’s aim for winning, shall we?

Defend your team like a mother hen protecting her chicks. There will be mistakes, oh plenty of them. But in public, always have your team’s back. It’s like an unspoken pact, a silent bond of trust.

Coaching and mentoring should be your bread and butter. A well-coached team is like a well-oiled machine Keeping all these insights in mind, remember the most crucial aspect of successful leadership: empathy. If you take one thing from this veritable tsunami of information, let it be this. Empathy, my friends, is the cornerstone of a strong management foundation. Treat your team members not as chess pieces to be moved about on a board but as unique individuals each with their unique strengths and weaknesses. Embrace diversity, foster an inclusive atmosphere, and encourage open dialogue.

Remember, you were once a part of the team, seated among the ranks. You can connect with your team, understand their needs, and meet them halfway that will make you the leader they respect and look up to. To paraphrase management guru Stephen Covey, “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.

To wrap it all up, as you stride down the path of management, never forget the comradeship of your team days. Carry it with you. Use it to build trust, understanding, and a collective drive to excel. Just as a musician relies on the harmony of their orchestra, you too must rely on the collective talents of your team. Your success as a manager is inextricably tied to their success, their growth, and their triumphs.

In the words of the late, great Richard Branson, “Train people well enough so they can leave, treat them well enough, so they don’t want to.” That’s the essence of management: raising people to their highest potential, and in doing so, reaching your own.
This list, much like my waistline after the holiday season, is by no means comprehensive. As managers, we are perpetual learners, sometimes through experiences that feel like trying to assemble flat-pack furniture with no instructions, looking at you Ikea! Regardless, the process of learning should never come to a standstill, just like my unstoppable consumption of espresso.

It’s crucial to examine our mistakes as a tool for self-improvement. Yes, even that time you accidentally hit “reply all” to the company-wide email. Just remember, no matter how seasoned or proficient you become, you’re bound to slip up. I mean, even Superman has his kryptonite, right?

But the key takeaway here is from the wise words of renowned Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard: “Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards”. This perfectly captures the importance of learning from our past, while charging forward, much like a bull in a china shop, towards the future.

So, buckle up, and enjoy the ride!

In the grand scheme of things, this might be your first step into the realm of management, but remember, every seasoned leader was once a beginner. Just as a seed holds the promise of a mighty tree, so does your journey hold the promise of great leadership. So, my dear Simbas, step out into the Savannah, for the Pride Lands await you.