Peer Today, Boss TomorrowNavigating your changing role…
A book report from the pamphlet “Peer Today, Boss Tomorrow” by Laura E. Bernstein
Strategies for Success▪Strategy #1: Accept Your Leadership Role▪Strategy #2: Set Clear Boundaries▪Strategy #3: Communicate▪Strategy #4: Take Action
#1: Accept Your Leadership Role
▪What changes lie ahead?
▪ Your changing value
▪Demonstrating your acceptance
▪ Additional Accountability
The new supervisor role
What changes lie ahead?▪ New roles, responsibilities and expectations▪ Plusses▪You call the shots▪You set the tone for your crew▪You direct the work your way
What changes lie ahead?▪Different Duties▪Changed Relationships and Allegiances▪Different “Peer” Group▪Additional Accountabilities
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Different Duties: -You are now in an oversight role. Your to-do list may include: coaching, evaluating, counseling, communicating, directing work, participating in discipline or termination investigations. Changed Relationships and Allegiances: -You are now a part of management and should uphold management tenets and initiatives. Different “Peer” Group -Although it shouldn’t come to it, your former co-workers should not question your commitment to your new management role. A real friend would not ask you to choose. Additional Accountabilities -You must develop a new network of contacts and relationships to broaden your ability to lead your crew. You have become a significant part of the overall operation, not just an operator of one area. You also need to familiarize yourself with all organizational policies, procedures and regulations because you are now responsible for ensuring compliance within your crew.
Your Changing Value▪Before, you were valued more on your individual contribution….
Now you should ask yourself:How do I get results through others?How can I make them better by what I do?
Presenter
Presentation Notes
The essence of true supervisory leadership lies in how you are able to get the best performance from your crew. Will you inspire them to greater accomplishments or just become another barrier?
Demonstrating Your Acceptance▪Become a “learning machine”▪Do your job- not your employees’▪ Lead by example▪Avoid finger pointing▪Don’t pass the buck▪When in doubt, ASK!
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Become a “learning machine” -Ask for help in learning everything you need to know to be the best at your new role. Identify new contacts. Develop relationships with your support network. Do your job- not your employees’ -Don’t step in immediately when someone is struggling, hold them accountable for results Lead by example -Regardless of what you did in the past, you are now expected to be on time, work hard, follow the rules and “go the extra mile” Avoid finger pointing -Accept a part in all messages you are expected to communicate, regardless of how it is received. Don’t support dissention. Don’t pass the buck -Don’t pass the blame to others (higher-ups)when messages or actions have potential for causing grumbling. When in doubt, ASK! -If unsure of how to react to a situation, seek guidance. You are acting and speaking for the company now.
Someone else was watching these items before. You simply tried to steer clear of them. Now you are steering the entire crew toward efficient, sound and legal operations.
#2: Set Clear Boundaries
▪ Establishing your authority
▪ Clarifying expectations
▪Redefining relationships
Drawing the Lines
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Sizing-up the Boss…▪ Your guys are wondering…▪ How strong a leader will he be?▪ Where are the lines drawn?▪ Where are the priorities?▪ Does he know what he’s doing?▪ How much influence does he have?▪ How much freedom does he have?
Presenter
Presentation Notes
The tests -Expect your crew to “size you up”. You cannot allow past relationships to affect your decisions. This can be a test of your credibility.
Establishing Boundaries▪ Don’t dwell on negatives
▪ Focus on expectation of them and you▪ How they should do their jobs and conduct themselves▪ How you will respond to their behavior and performance
This effort establishes your authority based on your commitment to managing effectively. It also recognizes the importance of their contributions. Finally, it sets the tone for the new relationships and establishes a road map for success.
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Don’t dwell on negatives The “Don’t do this” and “Don’t do that” makes this part of the relationship distasteful for some, so they avoid the discussions altogether. A two-way discussion needs to occur between a supervisor and his direct reports on a regular basis. If these talks don’t happen, the team members are forced to frame the relationship themselves.
The “Big Two”▪ Policies and Procedures▪ Safety regulations
▪ Documentation
▪ Reporting
▪ Operating procedures
▪ Work permits
▪ Company rules
▪ Behaviors and Actions▪ Punctuality
▪ PPE
▪ Respectful actions with others
▪ Integrity
▪ Maintaining standards of behavior
▪ Teamwork
Presenter
Presentation Notes
The Big Two -Two primary areas of focus are: adherence to policies and procedures and your crew members’ conduct on the job (behaviors and actions)
The Importance of Consistency▪ Your message and your expectations must be consistent with all
team members regardless of past relationships
▪ Hold all the people accountable for all the rules all the time (10,000% compliance)
▪ No favoritism or discrimination
Inconsistency on your part will cause your team members to lose respect for you.
Presenter
Presentation Notes
The Importance of Consistency -Sending mixed messages, condoning “stretched” rules, and demonstrating favoritism will create an atmosphere of distrust that a supervisor cannot survive long-term. Leaders are fair and consistent. Discrimination -Inconsistency in expectations and application of discipline can be perceived as discrimination with some team members. Discrimination of any kind is not tolerated at FHR.
Your actions with others…▪ DO▪ First, understand the rules
yourself, then help them understand the rules
▪ Communicate whys as well as whats when possible
▪ Expect accountability from them and yourself
▪ Recognize those who do right
▪ DON’T▪ Give way to personal feelings▪ Put buddies before business▪ Differentiate as to which rules
are “hard” and which are “soft”, rules are rules
▪ Share privileged or confidential information
▪ Assign discipline without guidance
#3 Communicate
▪Delivering your message
▪Receiving their message
It is the “senders” responsibility to ensure that the message is clearly understood.
A clear understanding is Job One
Delivering your message▪What you say▪Choose words carefully▪Clear, direct instructions
▪How you say it▪Body language and tone should support what you mean to convey
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Choose words carefully -Words carry meanings. Some words carry more than one meaning and can be misunderstood. Be sure you are expressing exactly what you mean. Clear direct instructions -When giving instructions, be direct and include only as much information as needed. Too many words can “muddle” your message. Body language and tone -It is said that words make up only 7% of how messages are conveyed. Tone of voice and “body language” carry the rest of the message. Body language includes; posture, distance, eye-contact, gestures, and facial cues. Be sure you match the delivery method with the import of the message.
Delivering your message▪What they hear▪Confirm understanding▪Vary your approach to meet the listener’s needs▪Ask questions to verify
Presenter
Presentation Notes
What they hear -Confirm understanding. Ask the individual to repeat what you expressed in their own words. -Vary the approach. Different people receive information in different ways. Some prefer more explanation, some like directness. Speak to them like they speak to others. -Ask follow-up questions to verify understanding. Some information is critical. Make these discussions two-way and ask for direct feedback from the receiver.
Receiving their messagePeople value their thoughts and ideas. If you act as though you don’t, they will cease to share them with you.
1. Respect the speaker2. Give full attention3. Use appropriate body language4. Interact with the speaker
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Receiving the message Respect the speaker. Value their thoughts and ideas as they do. Approach with an open mind. Put aside past feelings. Give full attention. Stop whatever you are doing. Eliminate distractions. Don’t allow others to interrupt. Use appropriate body language. This should vary with the message being delivered. A serious message should be conveyed that way. Interact with the speaker. Let them know you’re listening by responding for clarification at the appropriate time.
#4 Take Action
▪ Problem solving
▪ Implementation/Execution
▪Decision Making
▪Delegation
Types of Action
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Everyone knows those that can be counted on to make things happen. Be one of those people.
Taking ActionYour actions should make your crew more effective. You should expect, recognize and help remove obstacles. Always focus on the organization’s goals and the finished product.
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Taking Action -When you were a line employee, it was okay before to bump up against a road block and wait for someone to clear the path forward. Now, you are that someone….
Problem Solving▪ Identify the issues▪Assess the severity/ impact▪Who needs to be involved?▪What are the potential solutions?▪What guidelines or restrictions apply?▪What approvals are required?▪What must I do to ensure that the solution happens?
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Problem Solving -Identify the issue(s); Gather support data, Enlist experts to help, Identify remedies and assign tasks with milestones and frequent feedback loops.
Implementation/ Execution▪ResultsAfter the team selects a path forward for resolution of an issue, establish and stick to an action plan. Don’t let the issue drop until the problem is fixed. Be the one that moves the problem to resolution… that is a leader.
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Implementation/ execution -Don’t let unresolved issues lie around. Be the one that moves problems to resolution
Decision Making▪Simple, right?
1. Analyze the situation2. Weigh the pros and cons of each option3. Decide what is best for everyone involved4. Deal with the consequences
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Decision Making - The essence of leadership. “The buck stops here”. Some problems will be too big for you to handle alone. Recognize these and ask for help. The ones that you can handle, take initiative and resolve them.
DelegationThis is part of getting things accomplished through others…▪ Things to consider:▪Match tasks with talents when possible▪Don’t dump all the work on those who do the best work all the time… share the load▪Don’t take on a task when someone struggles even if you can do it better… Lend a hand, help them learn from the experience.
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Delegation -Make the assignment, offer advice, then back off and let them learn (if safe to do so). Experiential learning is the type of learning that imprints on the learner the best, long term.
Follow the Leader
1. Treat everyone with dignity, respect and courtesy
2. Lead by example
3. Be firm, fair and consistent
4. “Own-up” to your shortcomings
5. Focus on their success
6. Get them involved
7. Listen
8. Show your appreciation
9. Respect their time
10. Do what needs to be done
10 Ways to be the kind of leader that others will want to follow
