Submitted by Fitch on
in
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Hey folks,
I'm moving departments to be a deputy team leader in about 3 months. I'm not sure whether to go and talk to the team (of mostly high C's) about it now or wait until closer. I need your advice/experience please.
I'm going to check in with the team leader to see what he wants to do about it - but I think he will probably make the wrong call on it so I want to control my own destiny - use your experience and wisdom and go with a preferred option to present to the TL.
The team all already know me to at least say hello to so it's not like I'm completely new.
So far I figure I have a few options:
1) Catch up with people individually (bad idea, gossip and people may feel excluded if I get to them last)
2) Get a formal introduction with the TL by my side - him introducing what I'm going to be doing (broadly) then I give the usual 'hey, glad to be working with you soon and looking forward to finding out what you're all working from and learning from you'. I'll pop in every now and again for a chat about what's going on if that's ok.
3) Go and introduce myself informally without the TL (but with his knowledge I'm doing it).
What I don't want to do is (being a high C) delay until they all know I'm joining the team and are thinking 'why didn't the jerk come and talk to us - we know, we know he knows we know etc'! (Which I've thought of people joining teams I've been in the past).
Moving Departments in a few months- How to introduce myself
Is your boss also the boss of the current team lead? In any case, shouldn't they be the ones to make such news official?
Once you've been "anointed" it's much easier to have the one-on-one conversations.
Has your co-lead been notified officially? If so, then you should meet with him. Regularly. If not, then just wait. Regardless, you need a good relationship. It sounds like you doubt the soundness of his judgement. You need to trust your co-lead!
Remember, your goal is to fit in. The team has a leader, who isn't going away, and so you should not try to rock the boat. There is no urgency here (is there?)
John
Re: Moving Departments in a few months- How to introduce mys
[quote="Fitch"]
I'm going to check in with the team leader to see what he wants to do about it - but I think he will probably make the wrong call on it so I want to control my own destiny..[/quote]
Huh?
Here's a bit of news: if you work in an organization, you DON'T control your own destiny - you're dependent on others doing their jobs so you can do yours (this applies to every level).
As you move into managing others, you'll become acutely aware of how dependent you really are: because you're going to be evaluated on how well your people perform more than how well YOU perform.
And if you're a "deputy" [i]anything[/i], it means they're trying you out- and the most important person in evaluating your tryout is often the person you're deputy to.
-Hugh
Moving Departments in a few months- How to introduce myself
Ah, the controlling my destiny bit is only in respect of the introductions in terms of going to the boss with a proposal in suspected absence of one of his own I am sure I can sell it to him.
But let's see.
What I have learned from the managing 'up' podcasts is that no matter how much I believe I can get the promotion in the not to distant future I cannot shine at the expense of my boss (ref Mark's high flyer friend who got the bullet for shining too bright and put noses out of joint). I have to make him more effective but make it obvious it's me who's made this change.
Fitch.