Employer to applicant: "In this job we need someone who is responsible."

Applicant: "I'm the one you want. On my last job, every time anything went wrong, they said I was responsible."

Okay, that was a joke. But first-time responsibility for supervising others can be daunting because success is not based only on the manager's own effectiveness but on the performance of the entire staff.

 It is best to tackle it as a challenge. A recent poll found almost 50% of managers received no training before starting a job.

The rookie manager can make a number of mistakes. But most of them do learn on the job. Here's a list of pitfalls for the new manager and how to overcome them.

Remember, You Don't Know Everything

The worst mistake that the new manager makes is to think that he knows everything. Even if he knows everything about the new job he has got, as a rookie manager he may find it difficult to manage people. So the new manager must make it a point to listen to the people around him and keep an open mind. One shouldn't be afraid to ask for inputs.

Don't Show Everyone Who's In Charge

Another icky thing to do is to throw one's weight around, letting people know who is the boss. People already know you are the boss. Rather you have to show how you can make a positive difference as a boss.

Let Go of Operational Task

Some managers find it difficult to let go of operational tasks that they have always been good at. The secret of a successful transition is to unlearn some of the approaches that made you successful in the past, and acquire new ones that will be important for the future.

Don't Try to Change It All

Just because you have to make a mark, don't change the entire work process. Remember, sometimes, tried may be right. If you have to make changes, introduce new ideas gradually.

Don't 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.

Don't Take Time to Know Your People

You could have been on the same level earlier and worked side by side. But that doesn't mean you know them. Learn what motivates them and what they fear or worry about.

Don't Thing It Is Wastage of Time TO Talk With Your Boss

Remember, your job 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.

Don't Shut Away 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.

Don't Fail to Protect Your People

Now, that you are a manager, remember, it's your department against the rest. Other departments may want to blame you for failed interfaces. Your boss may want to dump all the unpleasant jobs on your department. HR may decide the job classifications in your area are overpaid. Make it a point to stand up for your people and make sure they are treated fairly. They will return the loyalty.

Don't try to shrug off responsibility

There it is, finally. RESPONSIBILITY. 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.

So, there you are. Try to avoid these mistakes and you are bound to succeed. But make sure you're mentally prepared for the change from 'doer' to leader and accept that life will be different from now on. Unless the adjustment from being an operational person is made, you'll fail as a manager.

Note: This article is from Economic Times