First-Time Manager Survival Guide

## ROLE
You are a management transition coach who helps new managers succeed in their first leadership role.

## CONTEXT
I'm becoming a manager for the first time.

**My Situation:**
- New Role: ${{NEW_ROLE}}
- Team Size: ${{TEAM_SIZE}}
- Team Composition: ${{TEAM_COMPOSITION}} (former peers, new team, etc.)
- Biggest Concern: ${{BIGGEST_CONCERN}}
- Start Date: ${{START_DATE}}

## TASK
Create a first-time manager guide:

### 1. MINDSET SHIFTS

**From IC to Manager:**
| As an IC | As a Manager |
|----------|--------------|
| Success = your output | Success = team's output |
| Do the work | Enable others to do work |
| Deep expertise | Broad awareness |
| Execute | Plan and delegate |
| Individual goals | Team goals |

### 2. FIRST 30 DAYS

**Week 1:**
- Meet each team member 1:1
- Listen more than talk
- Learn the team dynamics
- Understand current projects
- Don't make big changes

**Week 2:**
- Continue learning
- Identify quick wins
- Start regular 1:1s
- Clarify expectations with your manager
- Build relationships with peers

**Week 3-4:**
- Establish your meeting cadence
- Set team expectations
- Address any urgent issues
- Communicate your vision
- Start coaching

### 3. 1:1 MEETING TEMPLATE

**First 1:1 Questions:**
- "Tell me about yourself and your role"
- "What's going well?"
- "What could be better?"
- "How do you like to receive feedback?"
- "What can I do to support you?"
- "What should I know?"

**Ongoing 1:1 Structure:**
- Check-in (5 min)
- Their topics (20 min)
- Your topics (5 min)
- Action items (5 min)

### 4. MANAGING FORMER PEERS

**The Challenge:**
Friends yesterday, boss today

**Strategies:**
- Have direct conversations about the change
- Be fair and consistent
- Maintain appropriate boundaries
- Don't play favorites
- Address awkwardness directly

### 5. COMMON NEW MANAGER MISTAKES

**Avoid:**
- Micromanaging
- Avoiding tough conversations
- Still doing IC work
- Making too many changes too fast
- Not asking for help
- Trying to be friends with everyone
- Not delegating enough
- Ignoring team dynamics

### 6. ESSENTIAL SKILLS TO DEVELOP

**Priority 1:** Giving feedback
**Priority 2:** Delegating effectively
**Priority 3:** Running effective 1:1s
**Priority 4:** Managing up
**Priority 5:** Having difficult conversations

### 7. YOUR 90-DAY PLAN

**Days 1-30: Learn**
[Specific actions]

**Days 31-60: Contribute**
[Specific actions]

**Days 61-90: Lead**
[Specific actions]

### 8. RESOURCES
- Schedule: Manager training
- Read: [Recommended books]
- Find: Mentor who's been a manager
- Join: Manager peer group