The first mistake every new manager makes
New managers often try to prove themselves by doing more of the work. But leadership starts when you stop solving every problem yourself.
THE QUICK ANSWER
One of the most common mistakes new managers make is trying to remain the hardest-working individual on the team. They jump in, take over problems and solve things themselves because it feels productive. But over time, this can teach the team to depend on the manager instead of thinking independently.
GO DEEPER
Why solving everything yourself weakens the team
Moving from individual contributor to manager requires a different definition of productivity. Before becoming a manager, being the person who could solve problems quickly was often valuable. After becoming a manager, constantly stepping in can prevent other people from developing the same ability.
Every time a manager immediately takes over a problem, the team learns something. They learn that difficult situations eventually become the manager’s responsibility. Over time, employees may stop thinking through problems deeply because they expect the manager to provide the answer.
A simple way to change this is to ask a question before giving a solution. Questions such as “What have you tried so far?” or “What do you think we should do?” force the person to think through the situation instead of immediately handing responsibility upward.
This does not mean managers should never step in. Some situations require direct decisions or urgent action. The goal is to avoid making intervention the default. Strong managers gradually build a team that can solve more problems without needing them in the middle of every decision.
KEY TAKEAWAY
Your job as a manager is not to solve every problem. It is to build a team that becomes increasingly capable of solving problems without you.
TEST YOURSELF
When a team member brings you a problem, what is usually the best first response?
PRACTISE IT
Try this lesson in the arcade
Quick retro games that start with this lesson’s situations. One thumb, one to three minutes, free.
