Managing Former Coworkers

In the second segment of our show we talked about some of the challenges that can occur after getting a promotion, ranging from organizational politics to time management.

I brought up one common scenario I’ve both experienced and heard about from colleagues, and that’s the scenario where a newly promoted manager finds himself or herself managing former coworkers or team members with whom they shared a really good relationship when working at the same level.

From spreading gossip to offering flat out resistance to new ideas or direction, our guests shared examples of how situations like this can prove challenging for newly promoted managers.

Susan Whitcomb recommended viewing the situation as a leadership challenge, and keeping focused on what the team needs to accomplish.

Having direct conversations with people saying things like “This is where we are going. This is the vision and this is what it’s going to take to get there.” And certainly recognizing that at some point, the manager is going to need to have a courageous conversation with the individual at the root of the problem.

We also discussed the politics that can arise with new peers at the same level as the newly promoted manager.

While reaching out proactively to schedule a “get to know you” lunch may seem like a good idea to many people, Jane Cranston wisely emphasized the importance of taking a seat back and observing for awhile.

I also liked how she reinforced that it’s important to make sure your own team is rallied behind you and aligned with you first, before beginning to reach out to the next level. It seemed to “work” for both scenarios.

Share your stories with us!

• For our managers out there, have you experienced challenges in managing former coworkers? How did you address situations like this? Any lessons learned?
• Is organizational politics something you’ve experienced as you’ve moved up the corporate ladder?
• For our coaches, tell us how would you help new managers navigate these scenarios.

Your host,

Tom Floyd
CEO
IEC: Insight Educational Consulting 
Specializing in Management Consulting, Change Management, Workforce Performance, and Employee Development

Coaching for a Promotion: