What was your Biggest Obstacle? Newly Promoted to the Management Ranks?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Keith Bernhardt on September 23, 2008 at 7:08am

Hi Bill,
I wasn't in management, but I will relate something that I experienced.
I worked in travel all my adult life, and the agency I worked for for 18 years, merged in 2005, with another local agency. Three of us came over to the new agency. Between the 3 of us, we had
somewhere in the neighborhood of close to 70 years combined experience.

The new place,had between 5 and 10 years each (3 there , too).
We all got along really well, but I always wondered, how the originals at the new
agency felt about us horning in, so to speak, on their territory.

I'm not being paranoid, but I have always wondered, how people feel, especially, an established
business, when new employees and even managers come in from the outside.

I would think "acceptance" would be the key obstacle, or at least one of them. How will
the established workers accept the outsider ?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bill Baumgartner on September 23, 2008 at 4:58pm

Keith,

Thank you for your comments.

I know from first hand experience, "Acceptance" is definitely a big challenge, from both sides of the fence.

Thank you again,
Bill

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Amanda Vroom on September 23, 2008 at 10:45am

I moved up through the ranks in my company very quickly...maybe a little too quickly in hindsite!

When I went from hourly to manager...I DID realize quickly that all the talk about how great I was meant nothing anymore because now I WAS A MANAGER...I was just like everyone else in the company. While this did take a few weeks to grow on me, it did help me realize that I was not a protected class anymore...my actions were now directly impacting not only my managment team but also the hourlies I managed. Once this all sunk in, I tried my hardest to ask questions, take notes, look at things more objectively. Before, I would probably just 'think' I knew the answer.

I give my company a lot of credit for seeing my inner potential...it may have taken a few years for me to realize it, but now I am confident-not cocky, partnering-not all knowing, questioning-within limits, and I defnitely know my place!

The toughest challenge that I faced was going back to the same store I came out of as an hourly to now manage. Everyone, including myself, found it hard to adjust our relationships. Obviously I wasn't going out to the local bar anymore on Tuesday with the gang and now I couldn't crack jokes with them like I used to. At times it was hard for me to feel like I could give feedback to people because I was their friend outside of work. I remember one cook who thought he could make the same comments about "hottie red head" once I was his manager. I almost fired him until he realized that I was his supervisor now and he couldn't speak to me in this manner anymore.

It is probably one of the hardest and most rewarding challenges I have every faced. The positive to all of this is that I truly understand our hourly associates, managers, and all the relationships that go with my current position. I continue to have a great rapport with everyone and because they have watched me excel even Sr. Operations now values my thoughts and opinions. I wouldn't trade how I got to this current position for the world. I worked hard, showed I had potential, and continue to grow.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bill Baumgartner on September 23, 2008 at 5:17pm

Amanda,

From your reply, I can tell you are helping others create value in their
personal and their business lives..
This is an important, if not THE MOST IMPORTANT trait of
all successful managers.

Keep up the excellent work.

Again, Thank You for your well-written comments.

Bill
Success Coach
"Helping you Achieve your Greatest Self"

• ▶ Reply