This document provides advice for a new manager transitioning into their role. It begins with 10 tips for success, such as believing in yourself, accepting there will be struggles, and getting to know the people and culture. It then lists 10 common mistakes made by new managers, such as thinking you know everything, not taking time to learn about your employees, and avoiding responsibility. The overall message is that new managers should seek input from others, focus on developing relationships, make gradual changes, and take responsibility for their team.

1. Manager, Health Procurement and
Contracting
Hanelie Lategan

2. Manager, Health Procurement and Contracting
Congratulations!

3. Manager, Health Procurement and Contracting
How was it for me?…

4. Manager, Health Procurement and Contracting
• Task focused to people management.
• Hit the ground running.
• Making BIG decisions on day one.
• Time. So much to do. So little time!
My key challenges…

5. Manager, Health Procurement and Contracting
1: Believe in yourself
Sometimes, when stepping into a new role, you
can face a loss of confidence. Remember that
those who promoted you saw your potential.
Hold this thought at the forefront of your mind
in the early days.
2: Accept you will have struggles
You don't want to be able to do everything in the
job on day one; otherwise there is no scope for
growth. Accept that, every time you take a step
up, there are going to be struggles and challenges.
My top 10 tips…

6. Manager, Health Procurement and Contracting
3: Take time to get to know people
You will probably find that it takes a bit
of time to reach the point where you are
fully utilised. Make use of this time to
get to know people.
Tip 4: Get to know the culture
Every organisation has its own culture, norms and behaviours. The
earlier you can get to grips with this, the easier it will be to adapt to the
way of working.
My top 10 tips…

7. Manager, Health Procurement and Contracting
5: Don't keep comparing
A trap to be alert to is making comparisons between your new job and
where you have just come from. While past experience can be helpful,
people will not appreciate you if you keep saying how much better you
were at doing things at your old place.
6: Make your own mind up
Everyone will love to tell you about all of
the good, and usually the not so good,
points of business units/people/staff. Don't
follow like a sheep, give everyone a fair chance
and make your own judgements on people.
My top 10 tips…

8. Manager, Health Procurement and Contracting
7: Make small changes to start with
You may have some ideas on changes that you want to make. At the
same time, you don't want to be biting off more than you can chew.
Focus on making small changes to start with.
8: Don't over promise
It can be tempting to make promises at
the start which you think will be popular.
However, if you fail to deliver, people will
hold it against you. It's better to under
promise and over deliver in my experience.
My top 10 tips…

9. Manager, Health Procurement and Contracting
9: Be clear on expectations of staff
Make a point of meeting with those that
report directly to you and setting
out your expectations of them in terms of
what they have to deliver. Set these out in
terms of written objectives and make sure you
check progress once a month.
10: Keep developing yourself
Every new job brings new challenges, so make a point of continuing to
work on your professional and personal development. Do something
difficult every day.
My top 10 tips…

10. Manager, Health Procurement and Contracting
1. Think you know everything.
If you were just promoted to Production
Manager, you may feel you know everything
about production. Even if that were true,
and it isn't, you sure don't know everything
about the most important part of your new
job, managing people. Listen to the
people around you. Ask for their input
when appropriate. Keep an open mind.
Top 10 mistakes over 10 years……

11. Manager, Health Procurement and Contracting
2. Show everyone who's in charge.
Trust me, everyone in your group knows
who the new manager is. You don't have
to make a big show about being "the boss".
You do, however, have to demonstrate that,
as the boss, you are making a positive
difference.
Top 10 mistakes over 10 years……

12. Manager, Health Procurement and Contracting
3. Change everything.
Don't re-invent the wheel. Just because the way something is done isn't
the way you would do it, it isn't necessarily wrong. Learn the difference
between "different" and "wrong".
4. Be afraid to do anything.
Maybe you didn't ask for the promotion. Maybe you are not sure you
can do the job. Don't let that keep you from doing the job the best you
can. Upper management wouldn't have put you into the job if they
didn't have confidence that you could handle it.
Top 10 mistakes over 10 years……

13. Manager, Health Procurement and Contracting
5. Don't take time to get to know your people.
Maybe you worked alongside these people for years. That doesn't
mean you know them. Learn what makes them excited, how to
motivate them, what they fear or worry about. Get to know them as
individuals, because that's the only way you can effectively manage
them. Your people are what will make or break you in your quest to be
a good manager. Give them your attention and time.
6. Don't waste time with your boss.
Since he/she just promoted you, surely he/she understands how busy
you are and won't need any of your time, right? Wrong. Your job, just
like it was before you became a manager, is to help your boss. Make
sure to budget time to meet with him/her to both give information and to
receive guidance and training.
Top 10 mistakes over 10 years……

14. Manager, Health Procurement and Contracting
7. Don't worry about problems or problem employees.
You can no longer avoid problems or hope they will
work themselves out. When something comes
up, it is your job to figure out the best solution
and get it done. That doesn't
mean you can't ask for other's
input or assistance, but it
does mean you are the person
who has to see it gets taken care
of.
Top 10 mistakes over 10 years……

15. Manager, Health Procurement and Contracting
8. Don't let yourself be human.
Just because you are the boss doesn't
mean you can't be human, that you
can't laugh, or show emotion, or make an occasional mistake.
Just be yourself. Let people see the real,
imperfect, flawed, quirky, weird,
beautiful and magical
person that you are!
Top 10 mistakes over 10 years……

16. Manager, Health Procurement and Contracting
9. Don't protect your people.
The people in your group will be under pressure from every direction.
Other departments may want to blame you for failed interfaces. Your
boss may want to dump all the unpleasant jobs on your department. It's
your job to stand up for your people and make sure they are treated as
fairly as possible. They will return the loyalty.
10. Avoid responsibility for anything.
Like it or not, as the manager you are responsible for everything that
happens in your group, whether you did it, or knew about it, or not.
Anything anyone in your group does, or doesn't do, reflects on you.
You have to build the communications so there are no surprises, but
also be prepared to shoulder the responsibility. It goes hand-in-hand
with the authority.
Top 10 mistakes over 10 years……

17. Manager, Health Procurement and Contracting
Anyone who thinks that they are
too small to make a difference
has never tried to fall asleep
with a mosquito in the room.
Remember you can make a difference………..