Good Questions to Ask a New Manager
Strategic questions for new managers that establish rapport, understand their leadership style, and set the foundation for a successful working relationship.
1What's your leadership philosophy and how do you like to work with your team?
Click to see why this works
What's your leadership philosophy and how do you like to work with your team?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Establishes their management style and helps you understand how to best collaborate with them effectively.
2What are your top priorities for our team in the next 90 days?
Click to see why this works
What are your top priorities for our team in the next 90 days?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Reveals their immediate focus areas and helps you align your work with their strategic goals.
3How do you prefer to communicate and receive updates?
Click to see why this works
How do you prefer to communicate and receive updates?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Ensures effective communication by understanding their preferred methods, frequency, and format for information sharing.
4What's your approach to giving feedback and how often do you like to meet one-on-one?
Click to see why this works
What's your approach to giving feedback and how often do you like to meet one-on-one?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Shows their feedback style and establishes expectations for regular check-ins and performance discussions.
5What do you need from me to be successful in this role?
Click to see why this works
What do you need from me to be successful in this role?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Demonstrates your commitment to their success and helps you understand how to best support them as a team member.
6How do you handle decision-making and when do you want to be involved?
Click to see why this works
How do you handle decision-making and when do you want to be involved?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Reveals their decision-making process and helps you understand when to escalate issues or make independent decisions.
7What's your vision for our team's growth and development?
Click to see why this works
What's your vision for our team's growth and development?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Shows their investment in team development and reveals opportunities for your professional growth.
8How do you prefer to handle conflicts or disagreements within the team?
Click to see why this works
How do you prefer to handle conflicts or disagreements within the team?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Reveals their conflict resolution style and helps you understand how to navigate difficult situations with them.
9What's your approach to work-life balance and how do you support your team's wellbeing?
Click to see why this works
What's your approach to work-life balance and how do you support your team's wellbeing?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Shows their values around work-life balance and reveals how they support team members' overall wellbeing.
10What are the biggest challenges you see our team facing right now?
Click to see why this works
What are the biggest challenges you see our team facing right now?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Identifies current pain points and shows their awareness of team dynamics and potential obstacles.
11How do you like to recognize and celebrate team achievements?
Click to see why this works
How do you like to recognize and celebrate team achievements?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Reveals their approach to motivation and recognition, showing how they value and appreciate team contributions.
12What's your experience with remote work and how do you manage distributed teams?
Click to see why this works
What's your experience with remote work and how do you manage distributed teams?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Shows their adaptability to modern work arrangements and reveals their strategies for managing remote collaboration.
13How do you approach professional development and what opportunities do you see for growth?
Click to see why this works
How do you approach professional development and what opportunities do you see for growth?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Reveals their investment in team development and shows potential career advancement opportunities.
14What's your communication style during high-pressure situations?
Click to see why this works
What's your communication style during high-pressure situations?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Shows how they handle stress and reveals their approach to maintaining team morale during challenging times.
15How do you balance being accessible to your team while managing your own workload?
Click to see why this works
How do you balance being accessible to your team while managing your own workload?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Reveals their time management approach and shows how they balance leadership responsibilities with individual work.
16What's your approach to delegation and how do you determine what to assign to team members?
Click to see why this works
What's your approach to delegation and how do you determine what to assign to team members?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Shows their delegation strategy and reveals how they match tasks with team members' skills and development needs.
17How do you handle it when team members have different opinions or approaches?
Click to see why this works
How do you handle it when team members have different opinions or approaches?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Reveals their approach to managing diverse perspectives and shows how they foster inclusive decision-making.
18What's your philosophy on innovation and how do you encourage creative thinking?
Click to see why this works
What's your philosophy on innovation and how do you encourage creative thinking?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Shows their approach to fostering innovation and reveals how they support creative problem-solving within the team.
19How do you measure team success and what metrics do you focus on?
Click to see why this works
How do you measure team success and what metrics do you focus on?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Reveals their performance measurement approach and shows what outcomes they value most for the team.
20What can I do to make your job easier and help you succeed?
Click to see why this works
What can I do to make your job easier and help you succeed?
Click to see why this works
Why this works
Demonstrates your commitment to their success and shows your willingness to be a supportive team member.
Best Practices for Building Relationships with New Managers
Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.
Best Practices
Ask Questions Early and Often
New managers are often more open to questions during their transition period. Take advantage of this window to establish good communication patterns.
Focus on Their Success
Show genuine interest in helping them succeed. This builds trust and demonstrates your value as a team member.
Be Proactive About Communication
Don't wait for them to ask for updates. Establish regular communication rhythms that work for both of you.
Question Sequences
The Leadership Style Discovery Sequence
The Team Success Sequence
Common Pitfalls
Don't Make Assumptions
Every manager has different preferences and styles. Ask questions to understand their specific approach rather than assuming they work like previous managers.
Avoid Complaining About Previous Management
Focus on the future and how you can work together effectively, rather than dwelling on past management issues.
Don't Overwhelm Them with Questions
Space out your questions over time and focus on the most important ones first. Give them time to settle into their role.