RSRobince Studio

Leading a New Team

After his promotion, Rahul manages a team of his own for the first time, and Ms. Kapoor briefs him on running his first team meeting and setting clear goals.

Rahul, Ms. Kapoor (Manager)

Key words and phrases

first-time managersomeone managing a team for the very first timeAs a first-time manager, he wasn't sure where to start.
delegateto assign tasks or responsibilities to team membersHe learned to delegate tasks instead of doing everything himself.
set clear goalsto define specific, understandable objectives for a teamHe set clear goals for the team's first quarter together.
team meetinga scheduled gathering where a manager and team discuss work togetherHis first team meeting felt more nerve-wracking than expected.
direct reportsemployees who report directly to a particular managerHe now had four direct reports on his team.
earn respectto gain the trust and regard of others through one's actionsHe knew he had to earn respect rather than expect it automatically.
management stylethe particular approach a manager uses to lead their teamHe was still figuring out his own management style.
one-on-one meetingsregular private meetings between a manager and each team memberHe scheduled one-on-one meetings with everyone in his first week.
authoritythe official power to make decisions or give instructionsIt took time for him to feel comfortable with his new authority.
former peerscolleagues who used to be at the same level, now being managed by someoneManaging his former peers felt a little awkward at first.
onboarding a managerthe process of preparing someone new to a leadership roleHR gave him a short onboarding session for new managers.
accountabilitybeing responsible for the outcomes of a team's workAs a manager, he now had accountability for the whole team's output.
lead by exampleto influence a team's behaviour by demonstrating it yourself firstHe tried to lead by example by never missing his own deadlines.
growing painsthe difficulties that come naturally with a new or expanding responsibilityEvery new manager goes through some growing pains.
check in regularlyto communicate with team members often to see how things are goingHe made a habit of checking in regularly with each person.
step into a roleto take on a new responsibility or positionHe stepped into the role with a mix of excitement and nerves.

Useful sentences

Dialogue

Ms. Kapoor (Manager)Congratulations again on the promotion. Ready for your first team meeting?

RahulHonestly, a little nervous. I'm not sure where to start as a first-time manager.

Ms. Kapoor (Manager)Start simple — set clear goals for the quarter and open the floor for questions.

RahulSome of my direct reports were my peers just last month. That feels a bit strange.

Ms. Kapoor (Manager)That's normal. You'll earn respect through consistency, not the title itself.

RahulShould I schedule one-on-one meetings with each of them this week?

Ms. Kapoor (Manager)Yes, that's a great way to understand their goals and check in regularly going forward.

RahulWhat should I delegate versus handle myself for now?

Ms. Kapoor (Manager)Delegate the routine work, and keep bigger decisions with you until you're more confident.

RahulThanks, that helps. I guess some growing pains are expected.

Common mistakes

Quick quiz

1. What does "delegate" mean?

2. What are "direct reports"?

3. What does "earn respect" mean?

4. What does "lead by example" mean?

5. What are "growing pains" in this context?

6. What does "accountability" mean for a new manager?

Practise speaking and listening

The free Day to Day English app turns every lesson into practice with audio, a story you follow and more than 1680 words to learn.

Free for AndroidPractise in the app