Taking on a management role for the first time can be a combination of excitement and feelings of “oh no, what have’m I just done?” One moment you’re thriving in your role, the next moment you’re suddenly responsible for leading a team, managing meetings, and being the person to go to when people are looking for answers. This is a big change — and let’s be honest, it often feels like being thrown in the deep end without knowing how to swim.
Individuals who have been promoted into management, for the most part, haven’t gotten there because they have already learned and honed their leadership skills. They have gotten there because they were great at their work. This is where the big issue starts to arise. Management is not just about doing the job well, but about coaching and helping other people be successful. This is a completely new skill set to learn, and it is generally not one that you are taught.
Most new managers find themselves trying to learn-as-they-go. They may have seen what their previous boss did and try to do the same thing (if they had a good boss), read a couple of articles on the internet, or perhaps watched a couple of leadership videos on YouTube. But learning by doing can only take you so far, and that is exactly why coaching for new managers is so important.
Consider this. You suddenly have to motivate others, have difficult conversations, provide helpful feedback, and keep everyone headed in the right direction! Oh, yes – you have your own work to do too. No pressure!
Without support, new managers can quickly become overwhelmed. They question themselves. They attempt to do everything on their own because delegating appears to be uncomfortable. They avoid conflict because they don’t want to upset anyone. They want to be liked but also respected. During this process, their confidence decreases – and so do the vibes of their team!
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That’s where leadership coaching for new managers becomes incredibly valuable. It’s not about memorizing leadership quotes or squeezing another training block into an already full day. It’s about giving new leaders the mental space to figure out what kind of leader they actually want to be—and then helping them get there. A good coach isn’t there to mold them into someone else’s style, but to guide them in becoming their own kind of leader. Leadership coaching for new managers helps them understand their personal leadership style, navigate discomfort in tough situations, and build practical, long-term skills they’ll use every day on the job.
It is also about having someone on your side—a neutral sounding board who is not your boss or your employee. Someone you can speak freely with, who will help you think, evaluate, and assess without being judgmental. That, in itself, can relieve a lot of pressure.
Coaching provides new managers and leaders with tangible skills—how to give feedback that actually helps, how to facilitate meetings that don’t waste time, how to manage underperformance without being the “bad guy,” and how to use time in a manner that they do not feel they are underwater every day. These are things you don’t learn in job descriptions.
Leadership coaching for new managers not only solves problems, it gives people long-term confidence. When someone leads in a way that feels authentic to them, they show up differently—they stop playing it safe—they are clearer, calmer, and more focused. When managers lead from that place, teams notice—the increase in trust, the ease of communication, a difference in the smooth running of things—a win all the way around.
And it doesn’t just affect one individual; the whole team is changed. When new managers have support, their teams are more engaged, more likely to stay, and more productive. Team culture improves, team results improve, and a stronger talent pool of future leaders is built inside the organization rather than having to look internally every time there is an opportunity.
At JLV Consulting, we’ve worked with plenty of first-time managers, and one thing we hear all the time is, “I wish I had this kind of support when I first started.” That really says it all. Leadership coaching for new managers takes out a lot of the guesswork and awkward trial-and-error, helping them step into their new role with way more clarity and confidence right from the start.
Ready to invest in your next generation of leaders? Connect with us today to learn how leadership coaching for new managers can help your team grow and succeed.