Starting a new role requires building relationships with new colleagues and staff under your supervision. This can seem overwhelming, especially if you have just moved to a new organisation, facility or department where you do not know anyone. However, the best approach when leading an inexperienced team is to establish valuable relationships from the beginning. 

Take the time to get to know your new team and peers. They have managerial experience and business knowledge and can answer your questions and support you directly. 

Teamwork is crucial in achieving success, and your ability to work effectively with your team can either make or break that success. If you are a manager who micromanages every task and constantly disrupts established processes, your team will likely respond negatively to your actions. 

As a manager, your primary responsibility is to maintain or improve your team's productivity while keeping your team members happy. Take the time to understand the responsibilities of each team member and leverage their experience to support the team's goals. Observe how they perform their roles and look out for significant issues and improvement areas. 

It takes a lot of confidence to entrust a management position to someone with little experience. However, if you find yourself in that position, it signifies that you have specific abilities that have been recognised and valued. Now, it is time to put them to use. 

Take note of your strengths and believe in your leadership style. For instance, if you are an innovative thinker who enjoys problem-solving and is in charge of a team whose productivity is decreasing, this is your chance to bring in some exciting changes. 

It's essential to acknowledge your strengths and weaknesses when starting a new job in aged care, especially if you're transitioning from another industry. Although certain leadership positions don't necessarily require experience in aged care, such as administration, catering, cleaning, and finance, there will still be aspects of the job that may be unfamiliar to you. 

While onboarding and orientation programs will introduce workplace policies, programs, and resources, covering some things is possible. As you become more familiar with your role, you may discover gaps in your knowledge. In such cases, it's essential to be open and honest about these gaps and seek help from your colleagues to fill them. You can also find ways to keep your top talents in your team happy and understand them better. 

Being a leader is daunting; hence, you shouldn’t stop learning to become the model your teammates would look up to. If you’re used to following others, it’s time to lead them to achieve the best results for your team, department or company! 

If you need help, Jobs Lah is here to assist you to become the better version of yourself! We provide tips and guides for future managers to ensure the best talents retention are maintained.