Transitioning from a staff position into a management role can be overwhelming for many reasons. The differences are significant: staff members typically focus on completing tasks within a specialized area, while managers have a wider scope with broader responsibilities. Managers are accountable for achieving organizational goals, making decisions, managing resources, and driving overall performance.
As a new manager, you’ll need to develop skills to navigate the challenges you will face in this role.
Change is constant, sometimes subtle, while other times radical. Possessing the emotional intelligence to assess the impact of change while providing direction and vision to your team is a critical first step toward success. Teams look to their leaders for stability and guidance, and an effective manager displays a balanced outlook that keeps the team on track.
We have selected ten of the 29 core competencies for leaders that we believe are most crucial for a new manager to grasp. We researched numerous resources on each competency. Below are links to articles and videos that will help you become an effective manager:
Leading Change – Flexibility:
- 11 Ways to Improve Your Flexibility in Leadership
- By: The Indeed Editorial Team
- https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/flexibility-in-leadership#toc-how-to-assess-your-flexibility-as-a-leader
- Forget Control. The 6 Dimensions of Flexibility Every Manager Needs
- By: Nirit Cohen, Forbes
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/niritcohen/2025/06/29/flexibility-skills-every-manager-needs/
Leading Change – Resilience:
- Resilient Leadership: 18 Core Attributes of Unstoppable Leaders
- By: Bravanti, a ZRG Company
- https://bravanti.com/resilient-leadership-core-attributes-of-unstoppable-leaders/
- How to Read Employees’ Anxiety as Data, Not Resistance to Change
- By: Expert Panel, Forbes Councils Members
- https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbescoachescouncil/2026/02/16/how-to-read-employees-anxiety-as-data-not-resistance-to-change/
Leading People – Conflict Management:
- The 5 ‘Cs’ Approach to Conflict Resolution in the Workplace
- By: Richard Trevino II (Entrepreneur)
- https://www.entrepreneur.com/leadership/the-5-cs-approach-to-conflict-resolution-in-the-workplace/350374
- How To Resolve Conflict In The Workplace As A Manager
- By: Christopher Littlefield
- youtube.com/watch?v=twZY3t37amE&feature=youtu.be
Leading People – Team Building:
- Elevating Performance: The Art of Building High-Performing Teams
- By: FranklinCovey
- https://www.franklincovey.com/blog/high-performing-teams/
- 6 Tips for Effective Teamwork
- By: David Burkus
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkkYR2VT_oU
Results Driven – Accountability:
- Accountability in the Workplace: Your 9-Step Guide to Creating a Culture of Accountability
- By: Nicole Lombard, Academy to Innovative HR
- https://www.aihr.com/blog/accountability-in-the-workplace/
- Accountability in Leadership: Why it Matters and How to Fuel it
- By: Michelle Gouldsberry, betterworks
- https://www.betterworks.com/magazine/accountability-in-leadership/
Results Driven – Problem Solving:
- Navigating Challenges: 5 Problem Solving Methods Every Manager Should Know
- By: modergov
- https://blog.moderngov.com/navigating-challenges-5-problem-solving-methods-every-manager-should-know
- The Ultimate Leadership Guide to Mastering Problem-Solving
- By: Sariki Abungwo (Forbes)
- https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbescoachescouncil/2025/03/27/the-ultimate-leadership-guide-to-mastering-problem-solving/
Business Acumen – Human Capital Management:
- How to Manage Employee Performance Problems
- By: The Management Center
- https://www.managementcenter.org/resources/four-steps-addressing-performance-problems/
- How to Deal with Difficult Employees: Leadership Skills
- By: Leaders Talk – ThinkEduca
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpaUb6t9ke0
Fundamental Competencies – Written Communication:
- Mastering the Art of Executive Communications: Best Practices and Strategies for Great Leaders
- By: Robert Forrester (Forbes)
- https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbescommunicationscouncil/2024/08/29/mastering-the-art-of-executive-communications-best-practices-and-strategies-for-great-leaders/
- Executive Communication: Fundamentals that Matter Most
- By: Regina Zafonte
- https://regina-72331.medium.com/executive-communication-fundamentals-that-matter-most-executive-comms-series-2-9-10f2720f961f
Building Coalitions – Partnering:
- How to Build Partnerships Within an Organization
- By: Oxford Training Center
- https://oxfordcentre.uk/resources/human-resources/how-to-build-partnerships-within-an-organization/
- Building Successful Partnerships: A Guide to Strategic Partnership Development for Emerging Leaders
- By: Join the Collective
- https://www.jointhecollective.com/article/building-successful-strategic-partnerships-a-step-by-step-guide/
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