5 tips for bosses who have just arrived at top
By DANA KNIGHT
Indianapolis Star
Fresh from the world of the workplace mundane, you have risen to the ranks of boss.
After years of looking out for yours truly, you suddenly have a team of employees to lead. So what kind of boss are you going to be:
Take all three, tone them down a bit and, experts say you'll make the perfect boss — caring, confident and humble.
Here are five more tips for new managers.
1. Don't get too close too quickly.
The easiest way to gain approval from employees is to shower them with attention and approach them as friends.
"Leaders have to manage their social distance," says Rob Goffee, a professor at the London Business School. "It is tempting to become one of the boys, a friend who happens to be the CEO."
2. Be in power with, not over.
When you are in power with your team, they feel honored, respected and appreciated, says Judith E. Glaser, author of "The DNA of Leadership."
When you are in power over them, they feel intimidated and defensive.
"You need to say to them, 'I'd rather have a power-with relationship, for us to work together as partners,' " she says.
3. Find sources of honest feedback.
You have to realize as the new boss that people might try to butter you up. So when you ask your favorite employee what she thinks of your leadership skills and she has nothing but glowing things to say, be skeptical.
It can be lonely at the top if you don't latch on to mentors and subordinates who aren't afraid to tell you what they think — for real.
4. Delegate.
"One of the biggest stumbling blocks for someone who is a new manager is they tend to take on too much," says Bob Hatcher, division director for Robert Half Finance and Accounting in Fishers, Ind., who has been a manager for more than 15 years.
They are so used to looking out for No. 1 that they forget there are people working with them to help in the success.
You shouldn't isolate yourself. Communicate your goals repeatedly to the team and see how those might flow down into their responsibilities.
5. Keep learning.
Learn the culture of the company, office and department. Go back to class for a degree in a related field. Take leadership training courses. Read books. Quiz other leaders you know.
After all, this isn't the last promotion you ever want to land. You should always be looking for the next level of advancement.
"You may think you've arrived with this job, but you haven't," Hatcher says.
