by Richard M. Highsmith, M.S .
The Leaders Institute
When I was first promoted from the rank and file, I struggling mightily with being a newly minted manager. I was written up twice within my first several months for insubordination and failing to carry out managerial directives. That clearly points out how unhappy my boss was with my performance. Unfortunately, my former peers were angry with me too. I had abandoned them and wasnt helping improve their situation.
At that point I hadnt figured out it was not possible to maintain the status quo in relationships with co-workers. I thought I had a really neat chance to express all the frustrations they felt to my boss and get the system changed. Unfortunately she saw my role differently and was determined that I implement upper management policy. My big mistake has been clearly expressed by Bill Cosby - "I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is to try to please everyone."
So there I was stuck in a managerial bog. Over twenty-five years later I have come to understand that the position of first level supervisor is one of the most difficult in the business world.
In order to get unstuck you must first understand that, while your friendships and maybe even loyalties might be with the hourly crowd, you are now part of management. Your primary responsibility is to ensure whatever policies, directives, orders and notions trickle down your way get implemented to the best of your teams ab...
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