As a manager, your role is to get results through others. The role of manager in many ways a manager is very similar to the role of the conductor of an orchestra. They organise things, they plan, they co-ordinate, they bring the best out in people, they listen, they communicate, they look for improvements and ways of changing things to name just a few.

Yet in reality, many managers struggle to stop being the musician and stepping up to the role of conductor. Why do they struggle to make the transition from musician to conductor and what can you do about it?

Keep doing what they always did

The manager's job is to manage, not to do everything themselves. As a musician, the manager was probably busy and had a lot of clarity on what they would be doing next. As the conductor, the manager is doing less and co-ordinating more. The manager needs to adapt and be flexible to changing circumstances.

The manager can only do this effectively if there is space and time in their schedule. The only real way of creating this space and time is to make sure that you are doing what you should be doing and delegating to others some of the work you previously did.

Lack of clarity on what is expected

The conductor is clear on the outcome that they want to create from the musicians. Yet in truth many mangers lack clarity on what is expected. What are those 3 to 5 things that your performance will be judged on and will determine your pay rise and promotion prospects? If you are unclear on this, sit down with your manager and get clear on the 3 to 5 priorities that your performance will be measured and then focus your attention on these areas.

Ineffective use of time

You may, like the conductor, have clarity on the outcomes that you want, but are you using the scarce resource called time effectively? You might be able to say categorically that you are because you are required to keep a timesheet showing where you spent your time. In my experience of working with clients, few have this level of clarity. Those who do are usually in a profession where their time is charged to a client. Even if you do not need to charge your time out to clients, you can:

• Record how you are spending your time over the month

• See what proportion of your time is being spent on your key priorities

• Use this as a basis of changing the way in which you work

Bottom Line- Many people struggle when they move into management because they continue to act like a musician rather than a conductor. So what actions do you need to take to become an even better manager and achieve more success?