11/20/2024

Two Habits of New Managers who Build Influence with Senior Leaders

Utilize behavioral science to help a new manager find their voice

So, you've made the leap. You began as an individual contributor in your organization, and now you're a new manager, with direct reports and greater exposure to middle and even senior management. This is a major step toward making your mark on the organization's culture and operations. 

However, you might wonder what kind of influence you really have. The truth is, quite a bit. In most organizational hierarchies, frontline managers outnumber every other kind of manager. Estimates find that 50 percent to 60 percent of all managers are frontlines, and collectively manage 80 percent of all employees. Frontline managers also tend to have the best read of what’s happening because they’re closest to the action. They're the most qualified to report on which on-the-ground processes need fixing.

It's difficult to tap this influence because you might see aspects of speaking up as scary or risky, so you decide to keep quiet. And if you do make your voice heard, you might struggle to get busy, distracted senior leaders to engage with your ideas.  

Please select this link to read the complete article from Fast Company.