You are now the boss. What next?

Set clear boundaries, create a formidable team and cultivate the art of listening, otherwise you will face rebellion, warns TANIA NGIMA

The long-awaited promotion has come and there is reason for celebration. This is a perfect opportunity to showcase your skills and capabilities.

Amidst the many changes that follow elevation of position in an organisation is finding the balance between your now new peers, your former colleagues and friends, some of whom you may now be in charge of.

This is not always an easy task as there is no absolute correct way to go about the transition. However, it is important to acknowledge that many things need to change, not least of them being the concept of communication and the channels used.

Collaboration

Being in a position where you have been put in charge of a firm’s resource, regardless in what measure, means that you have to work more closely with other team members towards the firm’s strategic goals. You also need to work more and better, with other middle level and senior managers. The key to this is to communicate more frequently — on and offline.

A mistake most managers make is to assume that they are expected to have all the answers by virtue of their appointment. More often, they are expected to have the knack to obtain these answers and make good judgement calls. Therefore ask questions and look for answers and solution unrelentingly. After all, it is more preferable to be perceived as too inquisitive but make the right decision with all the facts than to assume you know everything and cost the company valuable resources.

Interaction

Collaboration also increases the awareness of other developments in the organisation.

These may not only be relevant to your department but may also give your team an opportunity to make valuable contributions and avoids duplication of work and tasks.

The temptation at the advent of a new elevated position is to look harried, bark orders from behind piles of paperwork and handle every office crisis on your own. Keep in mind that now, even more than before, you need to work more closely with your team.

Make it a habit to take some time off allocating tasks and duties to your staff.

Inquire about their welfare because you are in a position to push for better terms.

Make it a habit to slot in time in your diary for meeting with your core teams to facilitate planning. Also cultivate the art of listening better.