The 5 Biggest Mistakes New Managers Make in Their First 6 Months

Courageous Leaders, Connected Teams

Episode: The 5 Biggest Mistakes New Managers Make in Their First 6 Months
Host: Stephanie Freeth

Episode Overview

The first six months as a manager can feel disorienting, overwhelming, and quietly high-pressure. In this episode, Stephanie Freeth unpacks the most common mistakes new managers make during this critical transition and what to do instead.

Drawing from leadership coaching, team psychology, and real-world experience, Stephanie reframes the shift from individual contributor to leader and offers grounded, practical guidance to help new managers lead with clarity, connection, and self-awareness.

If you’re a new manager or supporting one, this episode will help you understand why the transition feels hard and how to move from reactive to strategic leadership.

What You’ll Learn

• Why what made you successful before promotion may hold you back as a manager

• How success shifts from personal output to enabling others

• Why clarity matters more than busyness

• The cost of avoiding the human side of leadership

• How reflection creates better decisions and healthier teams

• Why blind spots are normal and self-awareness is essential

• Why struggling doesn’t mean you’re failing, it often means you’re unsupported

Episode Breakdown

• The manager transition and why it’s so challenging

• Mistake #1: Relying on the skills that got you promoted

• Mistake #2: Confusing busyness with effectiveness

• Mistake #3: Avoiding the human side of work

• Mistake #4: Leaving no space for reflection

• Mistake #5: Ignoring leadership blind spots

• Leadership as self-awareness, not perfection

• Tools and support for navigating the manager transition

Key Quotes

• “What got you here won’t get you there.”

• “Success is now measured through others.”

• “Busy does not mean effective.”

• “People don’t leave the work. They leave when they don’t feel seen.”

• “You’re not failing. You’re unsupported.”

Resources Mentioned

• Team Health & Performance Quiz

• Tools for navigating the manager transition

• Team Enneagram Workshops

Who This Episode Is For

• First-time managers

• Leaders in their first year of management

• HR and People leaders supporting new managers

• Anyone feeling stuck, reactive, or unsure in their leadership role

🎧 Listen now and learn how to move through the manager transition with more confidence, clarity, and connection.