Meet Arjun.
Last month, he was a star sales rep. This month? He’s a terrified new manager holding his first team meeting.
“So… great job, everyone,” he mumbles to his former peers. “Keep…doing that?”
His team exchanges glances. One rolls her eyes so hard Arjun worries she might injure herself.
Why First-Time Managers Need More Than a Promotion Email
Arjun’s week from hell
- Monday: Delegated a task by forwarding an email with “Pls handle.”
- Wednesday: Gave “constructive feedback” that left his top performer in tears
- Friday: Promised the moon to motivate his team (“Year-end bonuses…maybe?”)
By week two, his team was plotting mutiny.
The Turning Point: When Help Arrived
Enter Excellential’s First-Time Manager Bootcamp – where Arjun learned:
- The Delegation Dance
- Old way: Dump work on others
- New way: “Here’s the why, here’s the support, now you own it.“
- Feedback That Doesn’t Backfire
- The “Oreo Method”: Good news → growth area → encouragement. Your client calls are stellar! Let’s work on follow-ups. Your potential is huge!”
- Motivation Beyond Pizza Parties
- Spotting burnout before the 3rd “sick day” in a row
- Custom growth paths for each team member
90 Days Later…
Arjun’s team:
- Delivered 130% of quota
- Actually, smiles in meetings
- Stopped updating their LinkedIn profiles daily
His secret? “I stopped pretending I had all the answers and started helping my team find theirs.”
