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There’s a bit of a learning curve when you first become a manager. The boss you have when you step into this management role is going to be impactful for you. In your first months and years in the role, you’ll likely start to observe and emulate your boss, as you now start paying attention to the ways she facilitates a meeting or makes important decisions. If you have a great boss when you step into your first management role, count yourself as fortunate. Crappy bosses can make it very challenging to succeed in your new management role because they are not modeling good behavior for you. However, understanding what kind of a boss you want to be is often shaped by observing bosses you don’t want to be. Even if you’re in a desert of crappy bosses, allow your management style to be shaped by doing things differently than those around you.
As you become more comfortable in the role, your management style will take shape. While it will be informed and influenced by your boss, and the management culture of your company, give yourself room to think independently about the type of boss you want to be. What kind of boss would you want to have? What kind of boss would your employees thrive with? What type of questions do you ask yourself when reflecting on your management style?