Welcome to the Boss' club

In his book Good Boss, Bad Boss, Stanford Professor Robert Sutton famously wrote that the best boss is the one who finds the sweet spot between being a spineless wimp and an insubordinate rabble rouser. In the real world, achieving this balance is tough especially for new managers who take charge of a team, after a promotion.

A new manager finds that former colleagues have turned subordinates. The first hurdle hence is subordination. The second is the possible ire from disgruntled employees who were expecting the promotion. In addition to external pressures, most new managers make the mistake of stressing themselves over their own performance. It is the third non-existent hurdle that makes taking over the new managerial mantle difficult.

“There is pressure on new managers to fulfil expectations. Often, this pressure is self-imposed. The management and seniors are aware that a new manager will need lead time to start performing as a team leader. All that's generally expected is that they sharpen their axe; establish strong relationships with and within the team and hone their people management skills,” says Riya Padhye, head - HR at My Financial Advisor.

Some new managers also make the mistake of considering themselves a part of the ‘boss club’. They stress their team over performance to either showcase their leadership skills or ingratiate themselves to their own bosses. Experts point that it can be a grave mistake as managing is all about focusing on the team, understanding their problems, solve conflicts and improve productivity.

The first impression on their behaviour can have a lasting effect on the team and its performance. “The best way is to continue having the same informal relationship with a colleague as before, which assures them that the manager has not changed as a person overnight. However, formal and informal interactions help the teams bond better, leading to more productive results. The team becomes more committed when a good manager leads them,” says Zarin Bhathena, SVP and head HR, Worldline South Asia and the Middle East, payment processing company.

Team members prefer leaders who are humble and reliable. Subsequently, new leaders should spend time and effort on discovering the ground reality. “They should learn the personalities of the team, market situation, internal environment, strengths and opportunities. They have to be accessible to the team and make focused attempts to build a working relationship with the team members,” says Aditya Narayan Mishra, CEO, CIEL HR Services.

This apart, the biggest hurdle for a new manager is either one person or a set of people who were expecting the same promotion. They tend to either create discord or even rebel against the leader, wherein productivity suffers. They are yet another set of troublesome colleagues who are either technically better than the appointed person and a certain number of seniors who have been passed on for the job. In teams which have multiple contenders for a job, top management must ease the process of appointment.

“To ensure that there is less or no friction is letting the manager’s peers know before the formal promotion happens so that it doesn’t come as a shock. It is necessary to allay the fears of the team and address the challenges that the new manager may face,” says Bhathena.

Few companies have the resources and wherewithal to help new managers acquire new skills, mentor them and ease them into the new role. Only those companies with very strong middle management can dedicate time to such upskilling. Top management picks leaders for promotions not merely due to their accomplishments but due to the leadership potential. Naturally, they expect them to rise to the new role all by themselves. Hence new managers should master as many new skills, both technically and soft skills to ensure that they gain the respect of the team and live up to their new role.

...& ANALYSIS

• Top management picks leaders on accomplishments and the leadership potential
   
• Naturally, they expect them to rise to the new role all by themselves