Mentor me

So, rather than assume that we are not good enough to advance up the rankings, the leaders go outside and look for candidates for top positions.

Why not mentor me?
Why not develop me or one of us who already works here?

Just because I have worked here for years and have been comfortable with my job and position doesn't mean that I don't want to move up. Hell, we all could use a little extra pocket change can't we? Maybe I'm just bored. Unchallenged. Complacent. Cynical. Bored. Unchallenged. Complacent. Bored. (get the picture?)

Why don't you ask us if we are interested in advancement? Do you know that we have degrees? Experience? Untapped potential and drive?

Probably not. I know that because you never ask. You assume.
Send us to classes. Give us projects. Talk to us. Figure us out. Know what we want.

Never underestimate the power of your people. We are your biggest resource.
We are the ones with the real power......a lot of us just don't know it yet.

Where do we go from here?

So the results are in and the list is out. Yeah, I made it on the list--the coveted list of candidates awaiting a spot in management.

Now, the question of the day is this:
When do we get placed and where do we go from here?

Sounds like an easy task but if you really want to look at it from a managerial / leadership viewpoint (not that I am one to give it but I'll give it a shot...) you have to look at the culture of the workplace.

The newbie supervisor must understand the culture of the unit or department if he/she wants to lead successfully. Is the culture already established? Is the culture nurturing, supportive, turbulent or non-trustworthy? Are the members of that team competitive, gossipy, hard workers, ambivalent? I could go on and on....

Without understanding the culture of the environment (the teams/depts goals, values and objectives) a new leader will find it hard to transition into the leadership position.

It sounds easy to lead a team where you once reigned high as an expert but transitioning from a follower to a leader changes the dynamics of your working relationship. It affects the working environment and those who you once thought were friends may feel a tinge of jealousy (and maybe more than a tinge).

I guess my job as a leader is to try to establish credibility. I hope to be able to read my teammates and build on my interpersonal savvy skills.

It may almost be easier to try to lead a department that you know nothing about, gain credibility and then perform your leadership magic. Almost.