The Cranky Middle Manager Show #312 The Future of the MBA Ken Starkey
The Cranky Middle Manager Show #245 Moving From Buddy to Boss Guy Harris
Posted on 13. Jul, 2010 by Wayne in Podcast
Today Wayne Turmel talks to Guy Harris about moving from “Bud to Boss”. How do you make the transition from working with peers to being the manager? Also we look at a Greek god who blew a cool gig and more from Emerson.
Guy Harris talks to us about moving from peer to leader. If you’re interested in his workshop, “Bud to Boss”, held July 26 and 27 in Chicago, click here to learn more.
2 new webinar workshops this month!
How to Create and Manage Remote Teams July 3oth
Web Presentation Basics- for those who have to present online and want to learn how not to suck at it. July 26th and 29th
If you have questions about these workshops, group discounts or any Greatwebmeetings.com training program, contact me.
Show Notes
0:00 Welcome to the show. Many of us got into management because we were complaining and basically got told to put up or shut up. Learn an object lesson from today’s dedicatee: the Greek God Momus. Complain too much and you’ll find yourself out of a pretty cushy gig. Of course as managers we need to deal with those situations. Good thing Mt Olympus didn’t have an HR department….
3:30 The quote of the week is from Ralph Waldo Emerson….. If you feel out of your depth and uncomfortable, well that’s a good thing. Really. Prepares you for management.
4:08 Okay, no one ever tells you that one of the biggest changes you’ll face in moving into leadership is managing people you used to work with and were your friends. That’s what Guy Harris is here to talk about. He’s partnered with Kevin Eikenberry well known to Cranky listeners (listen to Kevin’s last Cranky interview here). In your new job, you not just change role, but also relationships and it’s the relationships that give people fits. Here’s a rule: don’t assume people will be mature and grownup about the whole process.
6:40 What does the conversation look like when you become the boss? These people know you so you can’t kid them. Approach it with humility and confidence. After some badgering he gives us some very specific language to use.
10:22 Often the biggest problem with this transition is the drama going on in our own heads- we assume problems that may or may not even exist.
12:20 Any time you take a new position, you need to create a transition plan. You have to analyze both the Role (the tasks of the new job) and the Relationships (who am I going to work with now?).
15:25 Planning is a good start but you can’t rely on it. One of the big changes is giving feedback. You have to remember that the power in the relationship has changed a great deal. Be careful of trying to be friends with the people you lead. But what if you’re already friends?
18:14 Relationships change when you’re the boss. Deal with it. There’s a reason the military has a “no fraternization” rule. You have a new “first team”- your leadership team is now the people you need to work best with and rely on.
24:21 the biggest concerns people have when they move into their first job involve communication and conflict resolution. As the manager you can’t just jump in and solve the problem. And no matter what you do you can’t solve the “thermostat in the office” argument by yourself.
Guy’s Resources
Great episode Wayne! I’ve featured your post in my Rainmaker ‘Fab Five’ blog picks of the week (found here: http://www.maximizepossibility.com/employee_retention/2010/07/the-rainmaker-fab-five.html) so that my readers may benefits from Guy’s great advice on making the transition from friend to boss.
Be well!
Thanks, Chris. Guy is a smart guy (so’s Kevin Eikenberry for that matter) and I’m lucky to have him in my orbit. Thanks for the support. Yours in whacking weasels…..