As a new manager, you can build confidence by developing strong relationships with your team, seeking feedback, learning from experienced managers, and learning how to delegate. Confidence grows through experience, small successes, and recognizing that you do not need to have all the answers straight away.
Starting your first management role can be exciting but also overwhelming. Here are 12 handy ways to reduce anxiety, develop your leadership skills, and become more confident in managing your team.
How Can New Managers Build Confidence?
1. Is it normal to feel anxious as a new manager?
Yes — feeling anxious as a new manager is a common experience. Recognize that it is okay to feel this way.
As we’ve already touched on, there can be quite a lot to worry about when you first become a manager. Are you really ready for the role? Will you live up to the expectations of those who gave you the job? And how will you keep your team happy? These are all things that other new managers worry about too.
Confident vs. Anxious Manager Traits
This table shows how confidence and anxiety can shape everyday behaviors for new managers.
| Trait / Behavior | When a Manager Feels Confident | When a Manager Feels Anxious |
|---|---|---|
| Decision-making | Comfortable making choices and learning from outcomes | Hesitant, afraid of getting it wrong |
| Communication style | Clear, open, and calm when speaking with others | Overthinks wording or avoids difficult conversations |
| Delegation | Trusts others with tasks and gives helpful support | Tries to do everything or struggles to let go |
| Working with the team | Takes time to listen and involve the team in decisions | Withdraws, or feels the need to overcompensate |
| Handling feedback | Open to giving and receiving feedback thoughtfully | Worries how feedback will be taken or fears criticism |
| Approach to learning | Sees mistakes as part of growth and reflects openly | Feels pressure to get everything right from the start |
| Day-to-day presence | Appears calm and consistent, even under pressure | Shows visible tension or avoids team visibility |
| Self-talk | Gives themselves credit and reminds themselves they’re learning | Gets stuck in self-doubt and internal criticism |
2. Why should new managers focus on building relationships?
Establish open and honest communication with your team members from day one to try to be an effective leader.
Make it clear, for example, that you have an open-door policy for those you lead and that they should feel able to approach you at any time.
Try to also hold regular one-on-one meetings with your team members early on, so that you can get invaluable feedback on their needs and anything you might be able to help them with.
3. How can other managers help boost your confidence?
Talking to experienced managers gives you a sense of perspective, the reassurance you might need, and practical advice that can be immediately helpful.
Even if some managers are reluctant to share their experiences, many others will be happy to offer advice and guidance.
Is there someone you can find who can act as a mentor of sorts for you? This person might be your previous manager or a colleague in another department.
Having someone to turn to for help can be great for gaining confidence and reducing anxiety.
Confidence for managers and leaders is certainly something you can build by reaching out to others; it’s a great start.
4. How can self-belief help you grow as a manager?
Always remember that you were chosen for a reason. Trusting that helps build confidence.
When we get caught up in the crazy workload we might have as a new first-time manager, it can be very easy to lose sight of the fact that you got the job for a good reason.
You have great experience or have shown great promise, and you have been promoted.
When things get difficult, remember that you will learn and improve, and every new manager goes through the same process.
5. Why does self-care matter for new managers?
Looking after yourself physically and mentally first will put you in a positive and strong leadership mindset.
Give precedence to maintaining work-life balance by considering self-care, including exercise, adequate sleep, and engaging in hobbies, to uphold both your mental and physical well-being.
As a new manager, you might feel under time pressure given the steep learning curve. Do not neglect the foundations of what makes you a strong person and leader.
Your new role can occupy your thoughts both during and outside working hours, and this leads to anxiety, as you get so engrossed mentally in the task ahead.
Making a real effort to maintain a steady and healthy lifestyle will greatly help in reducing your anxiety and keeping a good, balanced work lifestyle, as confidence as a new manager starts with looking after yourself.
6. How can mindfulness reduce managerial anxiety?
Practicing mindfulness helps you stay calm, focused, and present, even during high-stress leadership situations.
There are inevitably stresses and strains as you mold yourself into an effective manager, and, for this reason, understanding some basic ways (as a busy person) to relax and de-stress can be extremely useful.
If your company offers any form of mindfulness or well-being training, consider taking them up on the offer.
Incorporate mindfulness and relaxation practices into your routine for stress management. Gaining proficiency in simple techniques like deep breathing and meditation can offer valuable benefits.
Here’s a good article also from Mind.org that you might find useful if you want to read more about work and reducing stress.
7. How does a problem-solving mindset reduce anxiety?
Seeing challenges as learning opportunities gives you a sense of control and builds confidence with each solution.
As a new manager, you will face many challenges and issues to solve and overcome, so see each as a chance to learn, grow, and gain experience.
Rather than being anxious, try to be excited at the chance this gives you to develop your skills.
Learn to develop a problem-solving mindset to handle issues with a constructive attitude.
You might find the editable Decision-Making Training Materials helpful if you are providing training to help managers gain and build confidence.
8. What emotional intelligence skills should new managers build?
Self-awareness, empathy, and emotional regulation help you lead with confidence while building stronger relationships.
To develop your emotional intelligence skills, consider doing the following:
- Reflect on your emotions regularly. Identify patterns and triggers
- Keep a journal of your feelings and reactions in different situations
- Actively listen to others without judgment. Practice being fully present in conversations.
- Avoid negative self-talk and cultivate a mindset of optimism.
- Put yourself in others’ shoes to try to see things from their point of view.
- Develop flexibility in your thinking and problem-solving approaches.
9. Why should new managers celebrate small wins?
Recognizing even small successes will help boost your morale, make positive behavior a habit, and help you build momentum.
Learn to appreciate your achievements, no matter how small or significant they are, and consider keeping a diary and listing each thing you achieve and do well.
Over time, you will realize just how much you are achieving and developing, rather than feeling anxious, thinking you have achieved very little when it is not true.
10. How does learning boost managerial confidence?
One of the best ways to build confidence as a new manager is to invest time in learning and professional development. Staying informed about industry trends and enhancing relevant skills boosts your confidence as a knowledgeable leader.
If you are looking for a book on how to manage, I highly recommend ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ by Stephen R. Covey.
If your HR Department does not proactively offer you training, ask them what is available.
Also, consider creating a professional development plan to track your learning goals and build structured growth into your first year as a manager.
11. How can better public speaking improve confidence?
Speaking clearly in meetings and presentations builds your leadership presence. Practice presenting ideas and updates to your team.
The ability to articulate your thoughts contributes to a more confident managerial presence.
A great way to do this is to join a local Toastmasters Club (they are worldwide) so that you can practice your public speaking skills, get great feedback, and learn among like-minded people.
12. Why is delegation key to managerial confidence?
Delegating well shows trust, reduces your pressure, and is great for confidence building.
Confidently empower and delegate tasks to your team members. Give them an opportunity and show them trust.
Good leadership is closely tied to good delegation, and this means an opportunity to reduce your own pressures and workload.
You can practice these delegation exercises for managers to improve trust and reduce anxiety.
Developing strong coaching skills can also help you support your team and build leadership confidence.
Examples of Overcoming Workplace Anxiety & Solutions
For building confidence as a new manager, it can be worth reading a few illustrative examples, so I’ve detailed a few below for you.
Petra had just stepped into her first management role and was nervous about giving performance reviews. She signed up for a short feedback course to build her skills. That small step made a big difference — she felt more sure of herself and now encourages her team to keep learning too.
When Suzy had to make a big call on a project, she felt the pressure. Instead of going it alone, she asked her team for input. Talking it through helped her make a solid decision — and gave her more confidence for next time. This kind of team involvement is a good example of inclusive leadership, where everyone’s voice counts.
Help New Managers Build Confidence Faster
Support first-time leaders with editable, ready-to-deliver training materials. They include activities, group exercises, and slides focused on building workplace confidence and self-belief.
Why Do New Managers Often Feel Anxious?
Many new managers feel anxious due to a mix of inexperience, unclear expectations, and the sudden change in responsibilities.
1. Lack of Experience
New managers often feel unsure about how to lead because they haven’t done it before.
They may lack practical experience in handling the difficulties that come with leadership and tasks such as decision-making and conflict resolution.
2. High Expectations
Many new managers put pressure on themselves to succeed immediately.
The truth, though, is that you do not need to be perfect from the start, and no manager ever is.
As long as you learn and develop, avoid the self-defeating idea of perfection.
Your subordinates might expect you to instantly know all the answers, but it will be a learning process, and many aspects of the role will need to be learned.
This expectation to be almost perfect can lead new managers to feel overwhelmed or uncertain.
3. Fear of Failure
The fear of making mistakes or letting others down can fuel anxiety.
You have been promoted by senior managers who believe in you and have given you a great opportunity, and living up to these expectations can feel like a high-pressure situation for some new managers.
Furthermore, the responsibility of overseeing others and being accountable for team performance can be overwhelming.
4. Transitioning from Peer to Manager
Leading former colleagues (peers) can be emotionally tricky and create role confusion.
You might well have been recently promoted from within your team, and now you may find it challenging to transition from being a peer to a position of authority.
Navigating relationships with former colleagues can create anxiety.
This is a very common source of early stress and sometimes results in some new managers experiencing imposter syndrome, meaning that they feel as though they do not deserve their role or are not qualified for the position. This self-doubt can contribute to heightened anxiety.
Always remember and keep in mind that you got the job because you deserve the opportunity!
5. Limited Training and Support
Many new managers are promoted internally without formal guidance or coaching.
The lack of guidance and resources can leave them feeling unprepared and under pressure.
Managers can become more confident through training and gaining key leadership skills.
If you can create opportunities for improvement, then the costs of training and development will usually be offset through increased productivity.
6. Balancing Multiple Responsibilities
Juggling team leadership with daily tasks can feel overwhelming without the right support.
Managers often have diverse responsibilities, from project management to employee development, and this can lead to pressure and mental fatigue.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, check out the biggest challenges new managers face and how to overcome them.
FAQs
How do new managers gain confidence?
Training can be key for 1st-time managers in skills such as inclusive leadership, conflict management, and leadership skills. Also, get to know your team using 1-to-1 meetings and use what you learn to build the team moving forward.
Why is confidence important for a manager?
When you are leading a team of people, showing confidence helps to breed trust and belief in others that you will be able to lead them well.
What does a confident manager look like?
A confident-looking manager is one who:
1. Speaks with confidence and authority
2. Communicates clearly
3. Shows positive body language
4. Makes clear decisions
5. Is approachable
1st-Time Manager Training Materials
- More guides for new managers
- Leadership Foundations training materials for helping new managers succeed.
- See ALL training course materials we offer for new managers, HR, and trainers.
