I have recently joined a software house in a senior tech lead position for one of the subprojects. I am new to this kind of position (management type) so I have a bunch of questions…
How do i avoid issues like resentment? They would at this point view me as a newbie who knows less about the project than them who is their own age or worse younger than them. One of them happens to be my high school classfellow. Authority seems to mandate significantly greater age or knowledge about the project, I dont thikn I have either…these guys have been working on legacy code for about 4 years now, I need their help to understand the status of the project and learn the specifics of the code etc.
It hasnt been sprung on them yet that I am supposedto be the lead forthat group. That is supposed to be an organizational decision in a few days. Most likely I will have to rearragne schedules etc to meet a deadline. Under these cricumstances is itbetter to …well whats the gentle intelligent way to break it to them Again point 1 is relevant here.
Considering that you are in Pakistan, I don’t know how good management works there. But here in US you will have to build bridges with the team, regardless of seniority, you know .. invite a few over for lunch together, bring them donuts on Fridays and give them a pep talk while being strict on schedule.
In my little experience with management, its best to conduct meetings in a professional manner, where you have an agenda, you stick to it and jot down the action items and make sure the deliverables are achieved. Outside the meeting room it’s one-to-one, where you sit with the person you are managing, listen to their worries, encourage them, try to find ways to make them feel comfortable and valued.
To dispel part of the criticism its ok to publicly acknowledge that you are new at it, yet be firm that you are totally committed to success and eager to learn & help.
Thanks AJee... thats some good advice there, even though its common sense and you expect those from a manager, you tend to miss the most obvious things when you have to do them yourself (atleast if you're like me)...right now Im quite chummy with all of them, as chummy as I can be atleast. :) I'll try the donuts idea, Im sure that would go well.
Faisal...cause of my masters degree and experience albeit in a completely different, unrelated domain. I dont think Im unqualified to be the lead, its a job I want, but Im completely new to.
Personal experiences from people in similar circumstances would be good!
i would also add to the above advice that while u r aiming to have a friendly atmoshpere do not get too chummy. U will, as a leader, at the end of the day have to deliver and that may mean pulling some people into line. if u get too firendly this will be difficult to do.
Always have an agenda, start and finish meetings on time, get the minutes out with actions soon after the meeting. send reminders of actions prior to deadlines so u know u r on track.
Show ur team u care about them and respect them, get to know peoples strength and make opportunites for different people to lead at different times (but do this a while after u have established urself as a leader)
Model the behaviour u want to see in others
Always appreicate good work publicly and reprimand in private BUT if someone behaves in a way to undermine u publicly- firmly and fairly FIX them in public
whatever serendipiti has described sounds like my boss. And she is awesome! I am learning a lot of project and people managments techniques from her. :)
