The First Year Decoded: Why New Managers Succeed or Fail

🎙️ LT Marketing and Leadership ShowEpisode: The First Year Decoded – Why New Managers Succeed or FailIn this episode of the LT Marketing and Leadership Show, leadership coach Kevin Britz is joined by Marketing and Communication Expert Craig Page-Lee for a powerful conversation exploring the realities facing first-time managers in today’s workplace.Building on their previous discussion around the “New Manager Guide – The Insight You Need to Succeed,” this episode takes a deeper look into what research reveals about leadership transitions, management failure, and the critical first 90 days of leadership.Drawing insights from Gartner, Wharton Executive Education, Centre for Creative Leadership, and Harvard Business Review, the discussion highlights a sobering reality: many new managers are promoted without the training, support, or preparation needed to lead effectively.Kevin and Craig unpack statistics showing:• 60% of new managers fail within their first 24 months• 75% of HR leaders believe managers are overwhelmed• Many first-time managers receive no formal management trainingThe episode explores how leadership failure shows up through declining morale, rising employee turnover, communication breakdowns, confusion around expectations, and the avoidance of difficult conversations.A major focus centres on the first 90 days in leadership — the phase most predictive of long-term success or failure. Kevin and Craig unpack the behaviours successful managers consistently demonstrate during this period, including:• Listening before acting• Building trust through consistency• Creating clarity around roles and expectations• Developing strong relationships with teams and senior leaders• Building healthy communication rhythms• Encouraging feedback and self-awarenessThe conversation also explores:• Delegation and leadership growth• Meaningful feedback• Active listening• Mentorship and coaching• Diversity, equity, and inclusion• Wellbeing, stress, and burnout in leadershipThroughout the episode, Kevin and Craig challenge the outdated belief that leadership is simply about authority or technical skill. Instead, they position leadership as a behavioural and human-centred discipline built on trust, communication, and intentional growth.This episode is essential listening for first-time managers, team leaders, HR professionals, entrepreneurs, and anyone wanting to understand what effective leadership truly looks like in modern organisations.As the episode closes, the conversation sets up the next phase of the leadership journey — months four to six — where expectations intensify, the grace period fades, and the real tests of leadership begin.🎧 Quote of the Day:“Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge.” — Simon Sinek