By Sunny Bates
QUESTION: Two years ago, I started a new job, and I've recently been promoted to a supervisor position. I am now supervising people that trained me and with whom I have become friends. We have socialized at each other's homes and gone drinking and dancing after work.
While I don't want to distance myself from them, it is hard to discipline "friends." Any suggestions on maintaining boundaries without alienating my buddies?
ANSWER: This is really a classic situation, and one of the greatest challenges of a manager.
You should first be very clear with your coworkers/subordinates that you will continue to care about them. Explain that any critique of them is purely professional and not personal.
You should also take this opportunity to identify several great managers in the company and engage them as advisors/mentors. They will be invaluable in your adjustment and growth in this new role. This is a good time to begin to assemble a group of people for your "inner circle" to use as thinking partners to help with this and other challenges as they arise. Good luck!
About Sunny Bates
Executive search, career and networking expert Sunny Bates is the CEO of retained executive search firm Sunny Bates Associates. Sunny is the author of How to Earn What You're Worth, published by McGraw-Hill in February of 2004.
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