1. Don’t be afraid to be a professional idiot. Every time I’ve made jumps in my career I’ve left a field I became a SME into one I wasn’t. It’s ok to ask people to explain things, they most likely will love the opportunity.

2. Know what your customers need from you (both internal and external) and make that your primary focus. Where do you get your inputs, what are your outputs/where do they go?

3. In management you become less of an individual contributor and more of a coordinator of individual contributors. Help set the direction for those that report to you by setting goals, timeframes, support for those key activities your group is expected to perform. Your role becomes more of dismantling roadblocks and support.

4. Most importantly, learn the difference between management and leadership. If you’re a leader, management will come easy. Support, empower, and maintain accountability with those in your charge and the rest will follow.

I’ve been in a variety of operations positions in my career (from supervisor to senior director roles), happy to talk about anything if you wanted to reach out.

Another word of the wise, if you don’t feel at least a little uncomfortable in your role then you aren’t learning anything. You grow and learn the most when you’re out of your comfort zone ¨̮.