The 5 Classic Mistakes New Billing Managers Make
Moving up to billing manager is often challenging- in the best and worst ways. You’re happy to be recognised, excited to be promoted to a position of higher responsibility, and pleased that you’re making your way up the career ladder.
On the other hand, you now hold management responsibility for other recruiters’ success while still chasing your own billing numbers. And you often haven’t received much management training—if any at all!
It’s an interesting transition, isn’t it. You’ve moved into management, with all the team nurturing and training that entails…but you’re also still judged on your own individual billing success. Some say that this juggling makes the billing manager role the toughest in recruitment.
Becoming a new manager in any industry is a learning curve, and new billing managers often fall into a few classic ‘new manager’ mistakes.
Luckily, if you know what these common pitfalls are, you can either avoid them altogether, or acknowledge and change your behaviour so that you and your team can thrive.
1. They try and shape everyone’s recruitment style to mirror their own.
Recruiters who get promoted to billing manager are generally high performers— this is why you were promoted! However, inexperienced billing managers often fall into an authoritarian management style where they tell everyone what to do and try to get everyone to follow their own tactics for success. What works for one recruiter doesn’t necessarily work for another, and forcing people to change their style often ruffles feathers and reflects in poor billing numbers.
If your recruiters are not performing, then coach them. Help them become aware of what isn’t working and to explore their own solutions. On the other hand, if your recruiters are performing, let them get on with it— even if some of their methods aren’t the ones you use personally. It’s wonderful of you to want to share your experience with your team, but don’t insist that your way is always best. You might even learn a better way from them!
2. They fall behind on their own billing, or they fail to nurture the team.
This juggle is not an easy one, so your time management skills will need to be superb.
1. Use the best time hacks and software available.
2. Schedule your naturally productive times of day to attack high cognitive tasks.
3. Schedule time to meet up with your team members to see what assistance they need.
4. Map out your standard weekly schedule to see where there are efficiencies to be gained.
5. Learn to delegate some tasks or you will crumble under the pressure.
6. Avoid the trap of drilling down into your recruiters’ tasks the way you do your own. Always remember: your role is ‘big picture’ when it comes to your team, don’t get bogged down in the details!
3. They’re too competitive with their team.
In ‘normal’ management roles, the manager has to step out of the limelight and encourage others to shine. However, as a billing manager, you have to encourage others to excel—as well as excel individually with your own billing! Finding the balance between team success and individual success can be tough as a manager, sometimes resulting in team members feeling their manager is trying to outshine them or is just trying to do everything themselves.
Great billing managers don’t perceive others as threats, but understand that their team’s success reflects well on them as a manager!
4. They try to prove they know everything already.
You’re justifiably proud to have been promoted, but this doesn’t mean you’re the font of all wisdom- particularly in the management sphere! Your journey as a manager is just beginning, so don’t cave in to the temptation (or insecurity) of pretending you know it all. When you make a mistake, freely admit it, and when you don’t know, say so and don’t apologise for it. ‘I’m not sure, let me find out for you’ is much better than giving the wrong answer or second guessing yourself.
No one expects a brand new billing manager to know everything. The senior managers are there to support you, and your team is there to help too. Don’t get isolated and feel like you have to show you’re totally fine. Billing Manager is a tough role (and your higher-ups will know this better than anyone!) Keep everyone informed, and ask for help when you need it.
5. They don’t behave like one of the team.
Nothing is worse than a manager who avoids accepting blame, or ‘throws people under the bus.’ Celebrate the wins as one, and accept your share of responsibility for the failures. They’re all part of being a manager!
All of these are very common, very understandable mistakes when you’re new at management. Becoming a successful billing manager requires that you maintain the drive to succeed individually, while learning how to take your whole team along for the ride. It’s a juggle, but it’s an exciting, challenging, and fulfilling one.