But before you come to the conclusion that you’re not cut out for this, I’ve got some good news: that’s exactly what I’m here to help with.
If you’re doubting your ability as a manager, your team probably is too.
real talk:
And while Googling and guesswork might be enough to *just* keep your head above water, to earn the respect of your team and truly bring out the best in them, you first need to show up as the kind of leader you’d want to follow.
But as you probably already figured out by now, it tends to feel more like you’ve been thrown in the deep end without any swimming lessons (or floaties) and no lifeguard in sight.
It’d be nice if securing the promotion was the tough part, huh? That all of that hard work was rewarded with a, “Congrats! You got the role, and here’s the instruction manual on exactly how to excel in it!”
It’s time for training that helps you become a confident, competent and inspiring leader so you start bringing the best out in your team…
…and getting recognized as an inspiring, impactful leader who’s contributing to the overall success of the organization.
When I first became a manager in what was a new career, I felt very intimidated. I was expected to come in and manage a team of experts in a field I knew very little about and it made me nervous. I knew within myself I was lacking in my ability to manage and lead well but I didn’t know where to start and what to do. Having proximity to you (Mak) and the clarity and guidance you provide through NMA has helped me to find my lane as a leader. It feels so good to be able to exceed expectations, be strategic and make things better for everyone around me. Becoming a healthy leader has not only impacted me, it’s impacted the team and that means everything to me.
“The biggest win in my first year of managing is hearing my team say “This is the healthiest team I’ve ever been part of.” It literally made me feel successful. Like, I hit the mark!”
Let’s replace the piecemealing with an actual step-by-step plan so you can start making an impact.
from someone who understands your struggles + pushes you to be your best
Receive personalized support & feedback
and turn your team into a well-oiled, highly motivated machine (who doesn’t need micromanaging!)
learn to delegate effectively
to navigate any challenging decision, sticky scenario, or difficult conversation with integrity
develop the skills & confidence you need
without having to pretend to be someone you’re not
understand your strengths and develop your own unique leadership style
that’ll become your time-saving, guesswork-preventing new manager playbook
Which is why your success as a leader is about developing the mindset of - and confidently making decisions like - a leader. Something that takes practice, not just “knowledge”.
So since no two people are alike, and there are an infinite number of potential scenarios you’ll need to navigate during your time in this role… good luck finding a book that has all the answers!
Effective leadership is less about what you know and more about how you think and make decisions. Because leadership is about people. Understanding what your team needs to reach their own full potential, and doing what you can to provide that support.
No matter how many books you read or (brilliant 😉) YouTube videos you watch, there’s a reason you’re left with that “What am I missing??” feeling.
‘Cause here’s the thing…
for support navigating sticky (urgent) situations - plus connecting + sharing with your cohort of like-minded leaders
Group Slack Channel
to improve your communication skills, decision-making, and adaptability
Monthly situational role-play sessions
with me (Makeda) where you can bring your questions & real time challenges for tailored guidance
4 months of weekly live group calls
designed to help you immediately implement the framework within your workplace
Time-saving tools & templates
to ensure you’re putting everything you’re learning into practice
Actionable homework
containing my 5 pillar Elevate Team Performance™ framework
The intensive video course
You'll be getting access to:
NMA pairs practical, theory-free training with a proven framework, personalized feedback and live group coaching so you can immediately put what you’re learning into practice in a safe, judgment-free environment.
In other words, you can stop wishing there was an instruction manual on how to do your job – because I’ve done you one better.
A coaching program designed to help you develop the confidence + skills you need to become an impactful, respected leader.
The New Manager Accelerator
That’s exactly why I created…
But you probably want the nitty gritty details right? Great! Let’s dive in.
click for details
Self-Paced Online Curriculum
Developing the mindset of a true leader so you can let go of the self-doubt & imposter syndrome and start taking ownership of your role
Understanding how to build relationships for influence, trust and respect (even with people who used to be your peers)
Creating a clear vision & strategy along with key performance & behavioral metrics for your team so you’re all moving in the same direction
Empowering your team through delegation so that you neither micromanage OR macro manage (and can switch off at the end of the day!)
Step into your role as leader by navigating tough conversations and creating next-level standards for a positive culture & highly motivated team
Accessing tools, templates + other resources that you can start using right away to save a ton of time and guesswork as you implement the framework in your day to day
Across 5 modules you’ll be:
Your enrollment includes lifetime access to an intensive video course that teaches you my Elevate Team Performance™ framework then helps you put it into immediate practice with actionable homework.
Weekly Live Group Coaching Calls
Bring your current challenges and get personalized coaching + guidance to help you find the clarity you need to move forward
Ask any hypothetical questions you have about how you’d apply something you learned in a specific scenario
Learn from what the other managers are being coached on and be encouraged by the reminder that you’re not in this alone
Be held accountable to doing the work you committed to in the previous call so you’re constantly being pushed to achieve your full potential
Have unlimited access to encouragement from someone who sees your potential and understands your struggles because she’s lived them!
During these calls you’ll:
As you work through the framework and start applying it to your role, you’ll naturally come across challenges unique to you , your team and your workplace which is why we’re here to support you through that process.
Monthly Situational Role Play Sessions
Play out real life scenarios in a safe environment so you feel equipped to handle them in real life
Practice having difficult or delicate conversations so you become a better (and more empathetic) listener + communicator
Put yourself in the other person’s shoes and better understand how what you’re saying will make them feel
Get used to thinking and making decisions like a leader
Role Play Sessions allow you to:
Dealing with people means no two days will ever be the same, and successful leadership is about being able to navigate anything thrown at you with integrity and understanding. And since gaining the skills + confidence to do that takes practice, we built this right into NMA.
Group Slack Channel
Requesting guidance on how to navigate sticky situations that can’t wait until the next live call
Asking the brains trust for feedback or recommendations on something specific - from software to structuring a workshop
Sharing honestly about any challenges you’re going through with people who really understand - and getting much-needed pep talks on demand
Celebrating the inevitable wins + breakthroughs you’ll be experiencing throughout the program so we can happy dance with you!
The channel is used for:
A week in new manager time can feel like a month, and when you’re trying to handle a challenging situation, a day can make all the difference. So to make sure you’ve got both practical AND emotional support between calls, you’ll be part of the Group Slack Channel - a favorite of most NMA alumni.
Speaking of the Slack Channel, here’s a sneak peek at just a handful of the wins past NMA students have shared in it…
feedback and accountability from someone who’s been in your shoes + understand what you need to succeed
Receive personalized support
to develop your own leadership style so you can reach your full potential as a manager while staying true to who you are
Lean on your strengths and unique gifts
so you can navigate any challenges from a place of integrity, wisdom and authority
Think and make decisions like a leader
so they become a well-oiled, high performing machine (and you get work/life balance back!)
motivate & bring the best out in your team
so you speak with the confidence + clarity needed to earn the trust and respect of your team
Develop your communication skills
making it up as you go along + feeling like a fraud because you’ll finally have a comprehensive framework to follow
Say farewell to Googling
The New Manager Accelerator is going to allow you to…
IN A NUTSHELL
Let’s get you stepping into your full potential as a leader so you can make the impact you desire (without needing to work round the clock or sacrifice your health).
Stop making it up as you go along, and start following a proven framework that will make excelling in your role so much simpler.
Get access to the personalized feedback, guidance and support that’ll help you understand your strengths & weaknesses so you can actually do what it takes to improve.
Or, you could get the training you need to actually become an effective manager.
Sure, you could keep consuming every free video, blog article + podcast you could get your hands on, only leading you to feel more overwhelmed and impostery… Maybe read every book with management in the title ‘til you feel like a walking encyclopedia for “effective management tactics” despite not having a clue how to apply this theory in practice.
4 months of coaching + community support via NMA Slack Channel
4 monthly situational role-play group sessions
4 months of weekly live group calls with me (Makeda)
Practical tools, templates & digital resources
Lifetime access to the intensive video course
Your investment for The New Manager Accelerator?
- SAMANTHA A. RN MANAGER - CLINICAL OPERATIONS
Before working with Mak, I felt like I wasn’t helping my team reach their full potential and was just coasting along. I was being too lenient, not producing results and not having great trust without the team. I knew I needed help when problems began to snowball and I was putting out fires that I knew could have been prevented if I knew what to do.
I feel much more confident in so many areas of my role. I don’t question if I should be in this position or if I am falling behind others or what people think of me so much because I can clearly see the results that I am doing well. That I am producing better results and I feel on top of things and make calculated decisions to help those around me.
If you ever searched for the answers on how to lead a team, how to be a better manager, how to produce results, how to have a difficult conversation, how to engage employees, then this program is for you. Say goodbye to vague articles or blog posts and you’ll find action items, clear steps and rationale for what you will be doing and it will cover each aspect of things needed to lead a team of people, things I didn’t even think of but totally needed.
From putting out fires to producing meaningful results.
- katrina, COMPLIANCE & AUDIT MANAGER
“I felt very lost. I didn't have that support system that I was hoping to have — it was uncharted territory. Before NMA I was working 15 hours a day because half of it was me trying to figure out how to deal with something I didn't know. I was doing Google searches, I was on YouTube, reading books that had ‘new manager’ in the title.
I've gotten a lot from the program but the most impactful thing that has driven results for me on my team is definitely confidence. It was quite the challenge to get that trust from them. But the trust had to start with trusting myself and knowing that I could do the work because there were days where I felt completely defeated. And there's no way that if I'm defeated, I can show up for my team in the way that they needed me to show up.
…Then for the first time ever in my career, I actually got a bonus. I think it just speaks to how much I’d grown and that I'm going in the right direction. I committed to it and I took the steps that I needed to get there and for someone else to recognize that.”
From feeling defeated to getting her first bonus.
NMA Success Stories
Before working with Mak I had a very poor example of how a manager manages.
I was paralyzed because of the example set before me, and knew that wasn't the right answer to be an effective leader.
At first I was hesitant to take NMA due to the time commitment.
But within the first week of joining, I had to have a serious conversation with a team member and I had no prior language with how to approach it.
I was nervous and I brought this issue to the sessions with Mak. Sitting down in a 10-minute role-play scenario hearing Mak coach me through what to say equipped me!
NMA has given me what I need to build trust with those I manage and the language to have impactful conversations to develop the employee while getting the results needed for the betterment of the company. So if you're thinking of joining... Do it! You're exploring this as an option because you know you want and need to feel equipped.
From feeling paralyzed to feeling equipped to handle anything!
I joined Mak's programme at the right time: just as I was promoted and I did not want to leave anything to chance. I wanted to be successful in my role, for myself, the team and organisation I am working for.
The New Manager Accelarator Programme provided me with guidance, reassurance and confidence in my role as a Manager. I felt very much a part of a support group led by Mak and it meant a lot to have that sounding board, safe space to talk things through and receive guidance, support, direction.
My confidence has grown immensely and few months later down the line, my team has been expanded and I have been trusted with new, extra responsibilities.
Do challenge yourself and join if your desire is to grow, evolve, learn from others. It will accelarate your progress and secure your success. One can learn by trial and error but if you are serious about being successful, progressing, being the best you can be, winning the trust, confidence of your team, your seniors, then this programme is for you!
- Blanka S. Operations manager
From underconfident to confidently leading a bigger team!
But rewind the clock and you’d find me freshly promoted into my first management position… immediately filled with overwhelm, self-doubt and terror that I’d let everyone down.
In other words, I know exactly what it’s like to be in over your head trying to navigate a role you feel completely unqualified for. To spend your days Googling for answers, second-guessing every decision and imagining the horrible things people are probably saying about you.
And as someone who (spoiler alert!) eventually overcame those struggles and became a confident leader who scaled a 4-person team into a 25-person department, created a team culture that brought the best out in everyone, and whose leadership decisions became recognized throughout the entire company… I’m here to tell you that you have the potential to do the same.
I’ve made it my mission to create the resources, training and support I *wish* were available to me when I was a new manager so you can speed up the process of becoming an impactful manager – and actually get to enjoy the journey!
Today I’m a leadership coach for new managers and founder of The Impactful Leader -
NMA helped me to define my role as a manager and develop a leadership style that worked for me and my personality. In fact, I learned that one of the things that I thought was my weakness was actually one of my super strengths. NMA provided me with the tools to navigate the various challenges and responsibilities I was facing as a brand new leader. I couldn't have had the success of where I am now without the program.
“I achieved 10 out of my 12 goals thanks to NMA! I couldn't have had the success of where I am now without the program.”
And you share common traits with my most successful NMA grads – meaning your story could be among theirs! I mean, no pressure... But wouldn’t that be awesome? ;)
You’re exactly who I created this program for
so you’re ready to roll up your sleeves and do whatever it takes because you need to make this work. Failing means letting your boss, your team AND yourself down. Not an option.
You’re not the kind of person who fails or admits defeat,
and know that means you need to be open to receiving constructive feedback, pushing outside your comfort zone and opening your mind to new ways of thinking
you genuinely want to reach your full potential
and know that you may eventually figure things out on your own, but you’re also at risk of burnout (not to mention blowing up your personal life) if things don’t improve soon, so you’re ready to get some help from an expert
You consider yourself to be pretty dang resourceful
but you know there must be a more effective and proactive way of doing this - which is why you keep searching for answers in the hopes you find that *thing* you must be missing
You’ve been piecemealing your role ‘til now
(maybe even obsessively - high achievers in the house say “heyooo!”) about your work and sees what you do as more than “just a job” that pays your bills
You’re someone who cares deeply
Nope, I’m not going to tell you this is for everyone, but if…
- ciera v. Manager of Data & Curriculum
When I became a new manager, it was important to me that I receive training on setting expectations, setting boundaries, delegating etc., so that I can work well alongside and with my teammates. Since working with Mak, I have felt a sense of calm and confidence in my day-to-day. I am able to pause and slow down and put in the work to plan and prepare for my week. It has made a huge difference in my mental health as well as the way that I collaborate with my team mates. Additionally, I am committing in the new year to lead with a clarity is kindness mindset. This is crucial in our day-to-day operations as a team.
“The tools, templates, and resources she provides are extremely valuable. Also, the fact that the course resources are available as an asset to you for a lifetime makes joining the course an easy decision!
Here are some common questions I’m asked by other new managers before they join the program:
STILL ON THE FENCE?
I’ve read all of the management books & binged most of your YouTube channel - is there actually anything new for me to learn?
Great question! We’re definitely living in a time where information is so accessible, and as a fellow self-education nut, I love it and have learnt a ton this way.
That said, this piecemeal approach can lead to a ton of overwhelm as you don’t necessarily have the big picture connecting all of that information together. More importantly, it’s just information – so you might be filling your head with more theory, but still don’t know how to apply what you learn in real life, let alone handle the nuances of doing so with a team that’s full of different personalities, relationship dynamics and unique challenges.
NMA was created to not only give you the big picture “how to” framework, but also help you develop the skills & confidence you need to handle anything your role throws at you. You’re also going to get something no book, YouTube video or free resource can ever provide: personalized support. You’ll get your questions answered, be able to bring your real life challenges to coaching sessions, receive feedback on your performance and even practice what you’re learning safely in role play scenarios.
I’m already struggling to keep up with my workload - isn’t this program just going to add even more to my already full plate?
While the program will require a weekly time commitment from you, it’s designed in a way that it’ll start giving you that time (and more) BACK. Because this isn’t theory-based training. You’ll be learning a framework that you’ll immediately be able to apply in your workplace, increasing your efficiency, ability to delegate, time management skills, the list goes on.
And because you’ll be approaching your responsibilities proactively (not to mention with more confidence), you’ll go from spending most of your time putting out fires to spending it setting up the tools, systems + processes that help your team work like a well-oiled machine. Farewell micromanaging, trying to do it all yourself and pulling extra hours – hello, finishing on time and happily taking days off knowing the place won’t burn to the ground in your absence!
I don’t see a start and a finish date… isn’t this live?
NMA was designed so you can start when you’re ready rather than having to wait for a specific start date. So when you join, your 4 months of live support will officially begin, plus you’ll be given access to the online training portion that you can dive into immediately and revisit any time in the future (a lot of alumni love coming back for refreshers!) because you have lifetime access.
I only just started in my role, shouldn’t I wait ‘til things have settled down on their own before deciding if I need the program?
Tough love time (from someone who’s been in your shoes!) – Now that you’re a manager, one of your main responsibilities is to implement proactive measures. Meaning if you want things to settle down and run smoothly, it begins with you.
I’ve had quite a few NMA alumni say they wished they joined the program as soon as (or ideally, BEFORE!) they got the promotion so they could have done things right from the beginning - and avoided a lot of mistakes/playing catch up.
Long story short, if you want to succeed as a manager, you gotta take the lead.
I haven’t actually landed the promotion yet - shouldn’t I wait ‘til it’s confirmed before I join NMA?
I’ve had a number of managers join pre-promotion and they did exponentially well because they didn’t have to move backwards before moving forward. In other words, they had the opportunity to set expectations up from the beginning, to begin their role with a clear plan for success, and of course, were able to make the right first impressions with their team making it much easier to earn their trust and respect.
Starting a new role is already scary and often stressful so the real question is: do you really want to add to the stress by showing up unprepared?
I’m an introvert and/or not a good communicator and don’t know if I’m even cut out for this role… can the NMA even help?
I get it – it can feel like only super confident, extraverted people should be managers. Especially if your own managers have been that way. But I’m happy to say that’s total BS.
Introverts and quiet spoken people can make for incredible managers and inspiring leaders - you just need to learn how to do it your way. And you were chosen because of who you are and what you uniquely contribute, not despite it. So developing your own leadership style is the key to making the most impact (and experiencing the most success!) - which is exactly what the NMA is going to help you do.
The environment sucks at my workplace & probably won’t improve. Why should I even bother if I’m the only one trying?
It sucks to work in a crappy environment – I’m sorry you’re having to go through that. But I want to encourage you and say that while the overall environment may be out of your control, how you show up in it is 100% up to you and by equipping yourself with the skills, mindset and confidence you need, you’re giving yourself the best chance of success.
And more importantly, leadership skills are something you can take anywhere you go. So if you’re serious about playing the long game and creating an incredible career for yourself, remember that joining NMA is about investing in yourself first and your current role second (though you may be surprised at how much of an impact you can have post-NMA, no matter how horrible the environment!)
I’m worried I’ve already screwed things up so badly it’s too late to course correct. Is there any point joining the program?
I’ve lost count of how many conversations I’ve had with new managers who worried they’d reached the point of no return – and the ones who joined the NMA proved that their fears were unfounded.
Whether you’re worried about the work that’s piled up, the conversations you botched or the overall impression you’ve been making, it’s completely within your power to turn things around. And from practical guidance to pep talks, with the help of the NMA, it’ll be a lot less stressful while you do so!
I want to get my boss to agree to pay before I commit to the program. Can you provide anything to help with that?
Yes, I do have a letter template I can provide you with that you can customize and give to your boss/employer… However, this isn’t something I give out prior to your enrollment in the program.
No, not because I’m mean ;) In fact, it’s because I care so deeply about your success (and the success of the rest of your cohort).
See, by committing to this proactively, you’re already showing initiative which will help your boss see you’re someone worth investing which not only increases your chances they’ll say yes, but also increases their trust in and respect for you from the very beginning.
But there’s one other thing. If your decision to join NMA is “conditional” on having someone else pay for it, that already tells me that your level of commitment to this program isn’t what it needs to be for me to confidently tell you that you could be a future success story. And being a small group container with limited places, it’s important everyone in the program is 100% committed as your contribution to the group impacts everyone involved – me included!
You’ve worked your butt off to come this far. You were chosen because someone saw potential in you. And you wouldn’t be reading this unless a little part of you believed you were capable of big things.
Best of all, you’ve now got the chance to do this with the training, guidance and support system you’ve been desperately searching for.
So if you’re ready to put in the work, I’m here to make sure you’ll be supported every step of the way.
How important is it that you succeed in this role?
