Skills for New Managers, 2nd Edition

Chapter 14Five Tests Every Manager Faces

Imagine we could transport a manager from 1950 into today’s workplace. Would that person recognize what it’s like to supervise people in the twenty-first century?

Aside from the most visible changes—different clothing styles and everyone fiddling with handheld electronic gadgets (and no smoking!)—the basics remain the same. Managers still need to maximize the performance of their employees.

Yet today’s supervisors face challenges distinct from past generations. Here are five of the most important tests that new managers must pass to succeed amid an ever-changing economic and cultural backdrop:

1. Managing contract workers. As more organizations enlist individuals to tackle short-term projects, plug personnel ...