Oops, I Got Promoted… Now What?
The new manager’s guide for leading people, priorities and yourself.
You’ve earned the promotion.
Now comes the part no one warned you about.
One day you’re great at your job… and the next, you’re expected to manage people, lead projects, motivate others, navigate conflict, communicate with confidence, and keep everything together - often with no training at all.
If stepping into management feels overwhelming, confusing or a little bit lonely, you’re not imagining it.
But you can learn to lead.
And this book will show you how.
For every accidental, unexpected or first-time manager who’s thought:
“I should know what I’m doing by now…”
“Why is this so much harder than it looks?”
“How do other managers make it look so easy?”
Drawing on over 25 years of real-world management experience -and the widely read Promotion Paradox articles - I’ve created a practical, reassuring and incredibly relatable handbook for anyone who suddenly finds themselves responsible for others. This isn’t corporate theory. It’s the stuff you will use every single day.
Inside, you’ll learn how to:
Earn respect, not demand it – and why your title alone won’t get people onside.
Reset relationships when colleagues become team members overnight.
Communicate so people actually listen - and act.
Delegate properly to free your time without feeling guilty.
Motivate individuals with very different needs (and spot the hidden signs someone may leave).
Handle conflict, difficult conversations and team tensions with calm authority.
Lead through constant change - even when you’re not sure of the answers yourself.
Build your confidence and resilience, instead of feeling like you’re “winging it”.
Get organised with simple, practical tools that stop overload and burnout.
Every chapter solves a real challenge new managers face - from navigating early impostor syndrome to managing performance, setting expectations, creating psychological safety, and building a team that actually works well together. And unlike most management books, you don’t need to read it in order—dip in, find today’s problem, get the solution, and get back to leading with confidence.
Perfect for you if:
✔ You’ve just been promoted
✔ You’ve been managing for a while but never trained for it
✔ You feel stuck between your boss and your team
✔ You want to avoid becoming the kind of manager you once disliked
✔ You want to grow into a leader people trust, respect and actually want to work with
Practical. Honest. Supportive. Refreshingly real.
Oops, I Got Promoted… Now What? is the book every new manager wishes they had on day one - and the one they’ll keep on their desk for years to come.
If you’re ready to stop guessing and start leading with clarity and confidence, this is your essential guide.