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The "Not-To-Do" Checklist

The "Don't Do This" list is often more important than the "To-Do" list for new managers.

Video: 20 Things New Managers Should Never Do (Free Checklist)

Watch me walk through all 20 habits, then tick them off below. Watch on YouTube (opens in a new tab)

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Theme 1: Trust Killers

Trust is slow to build and fast to lose. These five habits spend it fastest, and most managers don't notice they're doing them.
1. Do NOT cancel 1:1s unless it is a genuine emergency.
2. Do NOT vent about upper management to your direct reports.
3. Do NOT hoard information to maintain power.
4. Do NOT take credit for your team's ideas.
5. Do NOT make promises about promotions/raises you can't keep.
Theme 2: Control Habits

The hardest group for anyone promoted from a technical role. Your job has moved from doing the work to growing the people who do it.
6. Do NOT rewrite your team’s work/code without telling them why.
7. Do NOT give the answer immediately when asked; ask "What do you think?"
8. Do NOT interrupt people during Stand-ups/Daily Scrum.
9. Do NOT be the only person who talks in meetings.
10. Do NOT multitask during video calls with your team.
Theme 3: Avoiding the Hard Conversations

These all feel like kindness. They're actually delay, and the cost grows every week you wait.
11. Do NOT ignore conflict hoping it will go away (it won't).
12. Do NOT use the "Sandwich Method" for feedback (Good-Bad-Good); just be direct and kind.
13. Do NOT save up feedback for the performance review; give it instantly.
14. Do NOT let a poor performer drag down the morale of high performers.
15. Do NOT assume silence means agreement.
Theme 4: Boundaries

Yours and your team's. This is the group experienced managers slip on most often.
16. Do NOT message your team on weekends/late nights (schedule the send for morning).
17. Do NOT try to be their best friend; be their manager.
18. Do NOT stop doing your own learning and development.
19. Do NOT expect everyone to work the exact same hours/style as you.
20. Do NOT forget to advocate for your team's resources/budget.

Leading a team that now works alongside AI?

Half of this list gets harder when AI enters the team: rewriting work is faster, answers come instantly, and it's easier than ever to skip the conversation. The AI Essentials for Scrum Masters workshop is a one-day, hands-on class on using AI as a thinking partner while keeping judgement, facilitation and accountability human.

See upcoming dates (opens in a new tab) Want the whole collection as one PDF? Send it to me →