by Michael Holland
Yes, there are some things you gain when you become a manager, but you lose things as well. Make sure you’ve left these behind or they could be impacting your effectiveness:
Being one of the “guys” – you can no longer expect to socialize to the same extent or maintain the close personal relationships you once had. Being a manager requires a bit of distance to maintain your objectivity.
Having favorites – as a team member there may have been people that you enjoyed working with more than others or who you felt you could relate to better than others. As a manager, it is your job to work with each person fairly and find a way to effectively relate with each one. No favorites any more.
Resistance to change – in the past maybe there were ideas you didn’t like or could openly express your resistance to – not any more. As a manager you need to keep an open mind and be willing to take the risks necessary to implement changes.
On a scale of 1 to 5, rate yourself on the above behaviors. Are there any changes to your behaviors, actions and conversations which should be instituted right away? Would you want your ratings to be different six months from now?
Develop an action plan to guide your personal development toward the changes and goals you hope to achieve.
