20 Questions

Questions to Ask Your New Manager

Strategic questions to ask your new manager to understand their leadership style, expectations, and how to work effectively together.

1

What is your leadership style, and how do you prefer to communicate with your team?

Click to see why this works

Why this works

Understanding their leadership approach helps you adapt your communication style and work effectively with them.

2

What are your expectations for me in this role, and how will my performance be measured?

Click to see why this works

Why this works

Learning about expectations helps you understand what success looks like and how to focus your efforts.

3

How do you prefer to receive updates and feedback from your team members?

Click to see why this works

Why this works

Understanding their communication preferences helps you provide information in the format and frequency they prefer.

4

What are your biggest priorities right now, and how can I best support them?

Click to see why this works

Why this works

Learning about their priorities helps you align your work with what matters most to them and the organization.

5

How do you handle decision-making, and when should I involve you in decisions?

Click to see why this works

Why this works

Understanding their decision-making process helps you know when to escalate issues and when to make decisions independently.

6

What are your thoughts on professional development, and how can I grow in this role?

Click to see why this works

Why this works

Learning about their development philosophy helps you understand how they support team growth and career advancement.

7

How do you handle conflicts or disagreements within the team?

Click to see why this works

Why this works

Understanding their conflict resolution approach helps you know how to address issues and maintain team harmony.

8

What are your expectations for work-life balance, and how do you support your team?

Click to see why this works

Why this works

Learning about their work-life balance philosophy helps you understand their expectations and available support.

9

How do you prefer to give feedback, and what should I expect in terms of performance discussions?

Click to see why this works

Why this works

Understanding their feedback approach helps you know what to expect and how to engage with performance discussions.

10

What are your thoughts on innovation and trying new approaches?

Click to see why this works

Why this works

Learning about their innovation philosophy helps you understand how they encourage creativity and new ideas.

11

How do you handle team meetings, and what is your preferred meeting style?

Click to see why this works

Why this works

Understanding their meeting preferences helps you participate effectively and contribute to productive discussions.

12

What are your thoughts on remote work and flexibility?

Click to see why this works

Why this works

Learning about their flexibility approach helps you understand your options for work arrangements and scheduling.

13

How do you handle team building and fostering collaboration?

Click to see why this works

Why this works

Understanding their team-building approach helps you know how to contribute to a positive team environment.

14

What are your thoughts on delegation and how do you assign tasks?

Click to see why this works

Why this works

Learning about their delegation style helps you understand how work is distributed and what you can expect.

15

How do you handle team recognition and celebrating successes?

Click to see why this works

Why this works

Understanding their recognition approach helps you know how achievements are acknowledged and celebrated.

16

What are your thoughts on continuous improvement and process optimization?

Click to see why this works

Why this works

Learning about their improvement philosophy helps you understand how they approach efficiency and effectiveness.

17

How do you handle team challenges and what support do you provide?

Click to see why this works

Why this works

Understanding their support approach helps you know what resources are available and how to access help.

18

What are your thoughts on cross-functional collaboration and working with other departments?

Click to see why this works

Why this works

Learning about their collaboration philosophy helps you understand how to work effectively with other teams.

19

How do you handle team communication and keeping everyone informed?

Click to see why this works

Why this works

Understanding their communication approach helps you know how information is shared and how to stay informed.

20

What are your thoughts on team culture and what kind of environment do you want to create?

Click to see why this works

Why this works

Learning about their culture vision helps you understand the kind of environment they want to foster.

Building a Strong Manager Relationship

Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.

Creating Effective Working Relationships

Be Proactive and Engaged

Show initiative in asking questions and seeking to understand their preferences and expectations.

Listen Actively

Pay attention to their responses and ask follow-up questions to deepen your understanding of their approach.

Be Open to Feedback

Show that you're receptive to their guidance and willing to adapt your approach based on their preferences.

Key Discussion Areas

Leadership style and communication
Performance expectations and measurement
Professional development and growth
Team dynamics and collaboration
Work-life balance and flexibility
Decision-making and autonomy
Recognition and feedback

Find Your Perfect Questions

Search our collection of thoughtful questions for any conversation or situation