Leadership tips for first time bosses

Leadership tips for first time bosses (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

Bad bosses are everywhere - we've all had them. But are you one of them? Or are you going to do things differently and lead from the start?

Here are some leadership tips you could use as a first timer, says Unnati Naarang

So, you've been promoted. The celebration, the parties, the good wishes - it's all over now and you're in your new cabin in the office suddenly with a team of fifty employees, your formerequals, to manage. You know they are calling you the 'boss' in their conversations and have probably started back-biting and bad-mouthing you too by now. Having the privilege to 'boss' around others for the first time comes with the temptation of giving it back to them, just how your bosses and their bosses had done. But fighting this temptation and consciously trying to be a 'good' boss, a complete leader is what makes a person remembered for the rest of his life.

Being a first-time boss is not easy - it is fraught with problems. What are some of the challenges a newbie faces in getting work done from his employees? "If the first time boss is from within the team, the greatest challenge would be to manage the perception that is created. Typical feedback from the team would be that he has changed and is not one of them anymore. The team also finds it difficult to accept someone who was always one of them now challenging them in work areas, providing feedback or even questioning them on deadlines. Some team members also resend the selection and question the rationale of promotion over other members or themselves. Typically if these questions are not addressed, employees could jeopardise work, go slow or simply not support the first-time boss," says Ronnie Dias, HR Head, Nalco Water India Limited.

This view is shared by Sakaar Anand, vice-president, HR, CA Technologies India, who says, "First-time bosses assume that the 'title' automatically entitles them to trust and respect from their subordinates. The biggest challenge a new boss has to overcome is skepticism on part of team members who would not want the first-time boss to learn at their expense. The problem is further c o m p o u n d e d when the new boss, in order to assert his/ her authority, becomes 'directive' rather than 'collaborative'. Another challenge can be that of being over-cautious and spillover of their earlier individual contributor role mentality resulting in over-doing things (in the name of adding value) leading to micromanagement that is detested by one and all. Another challenge that a new boss can encounter is over-delegating."

Rightfully, delegating everything you are required to do might not be the smartest thing to do. After all, it is no excuse for absolving oneself of responsibility. "The biggest problem of a first-time boss is the span of delegation. What to delegate? When to delegate? How much to delegate? These are the questions one faces as a first timer. Being a boss means being accountable for a lot of things in an organisation and hence to determine the span and scope of delegation is of utmost importance," says Debasis Chatterji, CEO, Netxcell Limited.

What are some of the ways in which a first-time boss can lead his team and manage their issues in the best possible interest of the organisation? "It's important that the boss maintains the confidence of the team as well as demonstrates that his motives are to ensure the team's success. In meetings, clearly state what behaviours and goals will make the team work and how it would lead to the company's success. The new boss should also maintain the right professional distance with those who are his closest friends within the team. Work should be allocated based on the strengths and weaknesses of each team member and not through favouritism," advises Dias.

Vijay Bobba, CEO and managing partner, Payback India, gives quick advice for a new boss, "First and foremost, be yourself; develop your own style rather than trying to impersonate anyone. Secondly, know your teams, solicit inputs from them, encourage open discussions, let them speak their mind, be flexible and collaborative, also very important - be ready to back off a little. Thirdly, take time to introspect. Lastly, look confident even in trying situations as the teams look forward to their leader at all times."

At the same time, he adds a word of caution, "Learning to lead is a trial and error method that comes from experiences over time - your own as well that of others around you. 'Boss' is just a word; the key is to be yourself!
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