Hi I’m Mike Staver, this is Mondays with Mike, a weekly video series where I answer questions from people like you. Here’s this week’s question:
Dear Mike, I have been recently promoted and am younger than my direct reports. They seem to be resistant to my leadership, what do you suggest?
Well, first of all, congratulations on your promotion!
I don’t think it has anything to do with the fact that you’re younger than your direct reports. Most people are resistant to leadership out of the gate and so as a result of that resistance they tend to either play games or hesitate. So what I want to suggest that you do is give yourself time, be patient. It doesn’t say how long ago, it says recently, so I don’t know if that was yesterday or last month… so first of all give it time.
Second of all remember that culture and openness is the key to building credibility in your leadership. But, do not be passive, do not be laid back. Make sure that you do three things well:
1. Make sure you establish expectations.
2. Make sure that you meet with them regularly.
3. Make sure that you build the culture.
Building the culture means spending time with them, understanding more about who they are as people, and creating a place that is energizing to work in. And you do that by making sure the work matters, by making sure that everybody’s clear – and by clear I mean making sure the expectations are in alignment with the resources you provide to get them to do what you need them to do.
If it continues to be a problem then I suggest that you address it head on. Just sit down with them and say “It seems that you are either hesitant, at least, with my role. Can you help me understand if that’s true and to what extent I could change some things to make it different?”
Alright? So clear about development, clear about expectations, accountability, making sure you’re spending time connecting what they do with what matters, and if that doesn’t improve then spend some one-to-one time chatting with them.
Hope that’s helpful, this is Mike Staver and Mondays with Mike. Take care.
