The New Manager's Handbook

Chapter 13. Get feedback

Almost all new managers experience bouts of insecurity. They inevitably wonder, "How am I doing? What does the boss think of me? Am I on track to move up—or have I leveled off?"

Few managers get the answers they're looking for.

Despite the popularity of so-called 360 degree feedback—where you receive input from your employees, peers and boss—many managers still wonder how they're perceived. Formalized feedback programs might help you gauge your skills and competencies, but they rarely shed light on your personality traits or the subtle people skills that influence how others respond to you.

Part of the challenge of ascending into management is coping with a lack of feedback, especially from above. Your boss might drop ...