The rise from employee to boss is complex and individual. The path to follow depends on the culture of the company, your self-image as a manager and finally the behaviour of your employees. Nonetheless, there are six essential steps to be taken in the seminar from colleague to manager:
Step 1: Define your understanding of leadership
Your personal leadership style results from your values, skills and experience. It becomes unique and makes you unmistakable as a superior. In a second step, you bring your understanding of leadership into line with the culture, value system and strategies of the company.
Step 2: Conduct appraisal interviews
You can only find out what your employees think through appraisal interviews, which are best conducted in the form of one-on-one meetings. You get to know their motives, wishes and demands. At the same time, you have the opportunity to establish your leadership role and communicate your ideas.
Step 3: Managing staff according to strengths and weaknesses
You know your former colleagues and current employees well; so you also know their strengths and weaknesses. Use this knowledge to delegate tasks in a targeted way. On the one hand, the work should be challenging and allow each individual to leave their personal comfort zone. On the other hand, delegation should not lead to permanent overload and, as a consequence, resignation.
Step 4: Maintain friendships, keep your distance
Over the years, you have formed acquaintances and networks with your previous circle of colleagues. Your promotion now puts you in a special position, which automatically brings with it a certain distancing. It is all the more important to cultivate the existing contacts, but at the same time, for reasons of fairness, make a clear separation between professional and private life.
Step 5: Bring former competitors on board
Probably other colleagues have applied for your job. Try to resolve the winner and loser roles by addressing the situation openly with those concerned. While everyone should accept that you are now in the leadership position, at the same time you should express your appreciation by offering a new challenge.
Step 6: Managing Conflict
Managing conflicts will now be part of your responsibilities. Do not be afraid of this; sitting it out is not an option anyway. It is inevitable that from time to time you will have to make unpleasant decisions and deal with the consequences. It is crucial that you always clearly justify your steps and can identify with them.
Do you have questions about our seminar From Colleague to Supervisor? Let us advise you today on your next further training and contact us. We look forward to your call or email!