I am now the boss and..........

[slalomsuki]

it is funny how everyone's behaviour has changed towards me.

I have been with my organisation for 7 years and apart from maternity leave I have been a plodder who did everything asked and turned in work on time while suiting myself.

I heard all of the secrets but never really bothered about it and just got on with it.

Anyhow over the summer the boss left and I got promoted to the head of dept. I have 17 staff working for me and was in competition with two other people who now work for me to get the job. One of them is fine and is very helpfull and wants to be a learning second in command and the other spends their time telling me what I should be doing and if I make a decision that they don't like copies all sorts of people in on emails about it. The rest of the dept are deciding whether to bitch behind my back or crawl to me for a better job etc.

I find it so funny that people have changed and am tempted to set the cat amongst the pigeons and see what happens.

I have been a boss before so this sin't the first time but it was in a much less political organistation

Vile isn't it. Not worth the extra money in my book. But then I love to be everyone's best mate

I cannot do 'boss'.

OH its hard, isnt it? The first time is always the worst time too.

I learnt pretty fast that you have to take a good step back from the people that you manage, whilst maintaining a healthy interest in them as a person and a worker to make them feel that you value them (because you do).

I also developed the attitude that whilst it is nice to get along with people you work with (particularly those who work for you), you are there to do a job and that was no1 priority. If you can get along with staff at the same time, then that is a bonus.

tricky isn't it?

Almost impossible to be matey and boss-like simultaneously, especially with such a large team. Not suggesting this is what you are trying to do btw, but just commenting - have seen disastrous effects of managers trying to have friends from among their team.

Sounds as though one of them is being extremely immature (wonder why he/she didn't get the job !). I would have a meeting with him/her, and say something like

'It can be a bit awkward when people are in competition for a promotion and then have to continue working together, but I know you have a lot to offer and I am looking forward to working with you and making the most of the experience you have to offer. I appreciate that occasionally I will need to make decisions and it will be impossible to do so and have everyone agree with me. I would appreciate your views on things I do of course, and will ask for them at the appropriate times, but I would be grateful if you could feed them back to me either personally and privately or in the context of a team meeting when asked, so that I can take on board your opinions and allow an open discussion about things that affect the whole team. In the meantime if you have any concerns or suggestions about how we can work well together I would be keen to hear them.'

Ta da!
Good luck, I'm sure you'll be a great boss!

Again, sure you don't need it but this thread has some useful stuff about being a manager.

Thanks for this

I must have missed the thread while on holiday

Its the political point scoring that I can't stand. The one who didn't get the job is about to put in a complaint about her not getting it to the bigger boss....not me but I am getting the repurcussions of it in her ability to undermine me at every opportunity. However people do know what she is like so they take it with a pinch of salt. The other person responded well to the "I value your opinion" chat and I have tried to keep them onside with work etc without favourtism.

The only reason I applied for the job is because I didn't want to work for the complaining one!!!

I was always told your either their friend or their boss, you can never be both.

agree with what everyone has said. You can't be their boss & a friend. I found this really weird when I first became a boss years ago, but you soon get used to it. Suddenly you're the "management" everyone is bitching about

Maintain a friendly interest in them & their lives okay, but if you try & remain the "friends" you were as equal colleagues & it just doesn't work on all sorts of fronts (chats about performance/attendance, people thinking others have got special treatment etc)

Most of the organisations I've worked in have been full of politics bulls..t too, so I know where you are coming from - sounds like you've got a good handle on things though, don't let them get to you - most people can see though it

flowerybeanbag - i've started another thread can you have a look please? ta

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/2310/392134?stamp=070920204103