By Rose O. Sherman, EdD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN
Last week at our Nuts and Bolts virtual workshop for nurse managers, I was struck by how many of the leaders attending the program were in the role for a very short period of time – many were in Week 1. They asked great questions, and several had already confronted some interesting challenges. Like most new managers, they wanted to avoid making mistakes, so they sought some expert advice. It is impossible to avoid all rookie leader mistakes, but knowing some areas to watch out for is helpful. Below are 15 rookie mistakes to have on your radar screen if you are a new manager or are mentoring one.
- Seeking to be liked instead of being respected.
- Neglecting to find out the key performance/budget indicators that need improvement and setting these as a priority for your attention.
- Failing to recognize that relationships with staff need to change when you move into leadership.
- Jumping into staffing to prove your value to the staff.
- Giving too much advice and failing to coach and empower.
- Neglecting to schedule one-to-one meetings with each staff member and your key stakeholders.
- Not clarifying the key parts of your role and responsibilities with your immediate supervisor.
- Not seeking mentorship from an experienced nurse manager.
- Jumping to conclusions/decisions without all the facts.
- Introducing change to the unit/department too early and without understanding the culture.
- Staying in your office too much and not regularly rounding.
- Spending most of your day in meetings rather than on the unit.
- Relying on the opinions of others about members of your staff rather than taking time to form your own observations.
- Not forming relationships with the housekeeping staff on your unit.
- Avoiding conflicts that need to be addressed.
There are of course many more that you can probably think of and add to the list. But here is what matters. Knowing what to do as a new manager is crucial but knowing what not to do is also essential for success.
© emergingrnleader.com 2025
Our Most Popular Right Now The New World of Work Workshop
Two Brand New Workshops for Your Team in 2025
*** Trending – Building Bridges Not Walls: Leading Multigenerational Work Teams – Click Here for More Information Building Bridges Not Walls
Nurse and Nurse Leader Work-Life Balance and Well-Being: Nursing Leadership Strategies for Success – Click Here for More Information WorkLife Balance and Wellbeing WS
New Book – Click Here to Buy
LinkedIn
Instagram