LPT request: getting promoted to manager position of my current team.

Submitted by dota2_sucks1 t3_10oi9wr in LifeProTips

My current manager decided to move to company that spun off and is taking 3 members of current team. I asked if I can be manager of current team and they said yes. I will be left to manage 4 people. Important to mention that transition time will be 1 year and both teams will be still working together very closely.

What would you recommend me to do as a first time people's manager in my current situation?

Industry: Pharma

Team is working with vendors in procure-to-pay in different projects related to digital transformation of procurement.

Thanks.

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Far-Two8659 t1_j6exy10 wrote

Your job is to make their job easier. And I don't mean letting them get away with things, I mean your sole purpose is to provide them everything they need to do their job as best as possible.

Remember that every single day

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Aunt_Anne t1_j6f82r1 wrote

Very early in your tenure, find out what their pain points and annoyances are and either make them go away or help them understand why you can't. Sometimes it's really simple things, like not having access to the best/closest printers, or BS excess process. Once they see you as someone they can go to with their problems, you are the boss.

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fuck_all_you_people t1_j6expy9 wrote

It's extremely hard to be promoted to a manager of a team you used to be a part of. You need to establish lines that shouldn't be crossed quickly and distance yourself from them outside of work for a bit until the power dynamic is established.

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Far-Two8659 t1_j6eyd7a wrote

Yes. Objectivity is your friend. Friendship is your enemy.

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dota2_sucks1 OP t1_j6ezoh2 wrote

Thanks, its 95% that i will be manager. Same happened to my current manager, she used part of the same team.

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Zestfullyclean87 t1_j6f52ou wrote

Your biggest challenge will be earning their respect. They’re not your coworkers anymore - they are your team members.

Two things will happen:

  1. Your former coworkers will try to get away with things because they think you’re cool. It’s tempting to give into that. But you’ll learn very quickly this is favoritism, and it will be to the detriment of everyone

  2. You’ll make decisions that former coworkers will not like. They will go behind your back and say “former boss would have done it this way.” Or “Why should I listen to you?”

That’s why you have to earn their respect from day one. Let them know you have their back - and you’re their defense attorney. But also let them know what your expectations are.

Give positive feedback when you see them doing something that you like, or that they did well. Thank your team OFTEN and make sure they know when they’re doing a great job. It’s very easy to have a “no news is good news” attitude as a manager, and I’m guilty of it myself; but they need to hear these things. Otherwise you get burnout, you get imposter syndrome

Giving negative feedback is hard… but sometimes you gotta do it. Avoiding negative feedback will only be to their detriment - if they’re doing something wrong, they need to know, so they can be given a chance to correct it

Your standard will be higher now. If you’re looking at your phone, your team will notice. If you’re late, your team will notice. If you dip out early Friday, or show up hungover after Super Bowl Sunday… your team will notice. Always lead by example

If you make a mistake, own up the mistake, but don’t harp on it too much. That will only encourage others to focus on your error, instead of your solution. Approach things in a solution focused way.

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IAMMADEOFSTARS t1_j6g7gwt wrote

I don't know if anyone else has mentioned this yet, but look up Project Oxygen from Google. They did this huge study on what makes a good manager and it is in my opinion very insightful. There is a Harvard business Review article on it that is really good and I'm sure there are some free alternative resources on it as well. Here are the 8 behaviors of a good manager according to the study:

  1. Be a good coach
  2. Empower your team and don’t micromanage
  3. Express interest in team members’ success and personal well-being
  4. Be productive and results-oriented
  5. Be a good communicator and listen to your team
  6. Help your employees with career development
  7. Have a clear vision and strategy for the team
  8. Have key technical skills so you can help advise the team
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ledow t1_j6fh3q0 wrote

"Team is working with vendors in procure-to-pay in different projects related to digital transformation of procurement."

I've read that three times and I still don't understand what you guys do.

You're certainly suited to management, by the sound of it.

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LostMyKarmaElSegundo t1_j6i7k30 wrote

You manage budgets, processes, and inventories.

You lead people.

Until you understand the distinction, you won't be good at your job.

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keepthetips t1_j6eqpnl wrote

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night-towel t1_j6h31cd wrote

Congrats, hope you got more pay 💰

1