If you’ve made the leap from individual contributor to supervisor, you know it: no one really prepares you for that first step into management.

One day, you’re crushing your own to-do list.

The next day, you’re responsible for other people’s lists…and wondering if you’re doing any of it right.

🔹You want to be supportive, but not a pushover.

🔹You want to set expectations, but not sound bossy.

🔹And you definitely don’t want to be that manager - the one everyone rolls their eyes at in meetings.

The reality? Every new manager stumbles. Every single one.

According to research cited by Wharton and CEB/Gartner, about 60% of new managers don’t succeed in their first 24 months - often due to lack of training.

But here’s the thing: those stumbles and mistakes are where the magic happens! That’s where you learn, grow, and start building your own leadership style. The key is to stay curious, keep learning, and listen to those who’ve walked this path before you. We’ve all made the same mistakes (and survived to tell the story).

Over the next few weeks, I’ll break down the 10 most common pitfalls new managers face, real-world stuff like:

💡Letting go of doing it all yourself

💡Managing people who used to be your peers

💡Giving feedback without feeling like a jerk

💡Balancing your team’s needs with the demands of the business

I’ll share practical, relatable, actionable tips to help you beat the odds and set yourself up for success from the start.

📢Stay tuned for #1: Overcoming “It’s faster if I just do it myself” - the productivity trap we all start with.

🎬Let’s keep learning together! Subscribe now to gain practical, real-world advice for managers at every stage.