What kind of leadership...

[Nexus]

Are you guys in favor of?
I guess this question is aimed to the older members here who have been around in the "game" long enough.

I ask this because I have ran into some odd problems.
Now I'm 22 years old, and ever since I started working at my company ( 2 years ago) I have been assigned more and more responsibility.

In Jan 2005 I was asked to be the boss's right hand, to be some kind of supervisor. I was flattered, I'm after all one of the youngest in the company and it's an extra challenge to boot.

BUT, here's the problem...my leadership is based on trust and own responsibility. I know my collegaues can do their work just fine without me watching over their shoulders and I depend on them to be back on time from brakes etc.

After a month or so I can say that some people really don't like my style. It appears they need a dominant force in the building to be an effective worker, someone who can say "Mike, do this and Eric will do that" but that's not really me, the last thing I want is to babysit guys that are twice my age.

I'm surprised some people still are like that, despite being grown ups?

So how'd you like your "boss" to be?
I still

[Clipper]

Hey Nexus, don't sweat the small stuff, you know why? because it's all small stuff. Bottom line is if you feel there's legitimate room for your continued advancement in your company, do whatever you have to to maintain your responsibilities to your superiors. They obviously saw something in you they liked, have the self confidence to run with that. If your ex-piers don't like your style, try to understand why and do what you can to modify your management style. A good head start might be getting a book about management. Stay your course.Tough it out. Don't allow jealousy and resentment to hinder your advancement. You'll find that when you surpass people, they have a tendancy to try to bring you back down to their level. Resist. Be strong.
Life doesn't give us that many opportunities, so maximize the ones you do get!

[Jester]

This may sound simplistic, so please bear with me.

You have to be how you have to be.  My experince as a team leader and squad leader in the U.S. Army taught me that those who are being lead determine how tough or soft you have to be. Oddly enough, it has carried over to the civilian world as well. Some folks need a kick in the back of the pants, some don't. You'll learn how every person reacts, then use what works.  

The style is completely up to you, and it has to be you. I perfer to work in a light atmosphere - meaning very informal. It is how I am -  just a laid back Pennsylvania boy who lives in the middle of no where. That doesn't mean I can't be tough if I have to be, it is just what I perfer.

It may be a challenge now, but it will get easier. Just try to relax

John

[beaky]

I'm not exactly management, but I've supervised crews for years. Think of me as a foreman who also sometimes sits in on production meetings and schmoozes clients, representing my bosses in the field. In my business, a small error can blow the whole profit margin on a project, so it's real grown-up pressure, often with big egos and short tempers.
  If it's your job to spell out the plan, as it were, and you think Tom should do this and Harry should do that, that's perfectly reasonable.
  Those under you shouldn't have a problem with that. Imagine a flight crew where no one is really being PIC... a lot of accidents happen when the chain of command erodes.  If your "subordinates" resent being told what to do, they can quit, or be fired. They've got a job to do, and so do you, so screw 'em if they can't handle that.  ESPECIALLY if they're playing games with you because you're younger than they are! I often have to deal with something similar... I'm a non-union worker who often has to oversee union crews. It gets weird sometimes, because I'm not an authoritarian or confrontational person by nature, and I must walk the line between labor and management without letting either one kick my ass.
  On the other hand, micromanaging everybody just doesn't work. It creates a big headache for all concerned. I let people know what the job requires, then give them a chance to prove they can do it right. I look for leaders among the led and bond with them, to help me do my job without them even realizing it (if I'm lucky). As far as long breaks or whatever goes... I find I get less backtalk and passive-aggressive work slowups if I present my case like a messenger ("my company is screaming about the deadline, guys, give me a break, etc."). It helps if these requests are accompanied by donuts  ;D.
  Anyway, my situation is not an office-type thing; maybe it doesn't apply. But if your bosses are worth working for, they ought to respect you if you tactfully explain that you've got more important things to do than babysit: things that they assigned for you to do. Tell them or show them how you can maintain productivity without throwing your weight around. Remind them  that you can't control these people like puppets. But gently, of course...
  Challenge them, within the limits of the situation, and they might reward you for it (I've gotten a little that way), or at least stop bugging you to be more of a hardass (pretty much got them to do that).
 Or, they might fire you... I hate politics! That's why I'll probably never be in management- unless it's my own company.
 
   ;D

[Nexus]

Thanks for the great answers Clipper, Jester (where have you been lately, pal!?) and Rotty, really apreciate it very much. Being young has its drawbacks sometimes

Though I have to throw in another dilemma to the mix: I'm in charge of many of my friends, and that's very challenging....we were hired almost at the same time, but I got the lucky brakes and advanced like a rocket whereas they got the short end of the straw.
We were a tight group, but are starting to disintegrate slowly, as our roles are becoming clearer.

But I don't belong with the other superiors, they are middle aged with grey hair  ::) Just feels like I have to sacrifice the social part of the job, because it's evident I need to distance myself from my close pals.

Man it's so weird, I'd like to think I'm ready for this, but there are so many factors I didnt consider when I took the job. It's not enough to be a good skilled worker, I have realized that.

[Paz]

[ozzy72]

Being in charge of friends is tricky, they'll try and use your friendship to get away with stuff. They have to understand that work is work, and play is play...
If someone doesn't like your style ask them what the problem is, if they're being a jerk make sure they get the really plum jobs e.g. cleaning the toilet
A lot of people will muck you around as you are young in the hope they can get away with not working. DON'T take it. They muck around warn them its their neck on the line...
Frankly I'm sure you're doing a great job Nexus, just keep at it.
Oh and I prefer hands-off management personally, which is why I like my boss so much, she is great. The headmaster is a twit though

[Romulus111VADT]

I was an Operations Sergent  (E-8 ) in the service and I discovered as Jester that there are some people that can operate without direct supervision very well. But there are others that need a swift kick in the butt to motivate them. All my men were exceptional soldiers and most were royal screw ups.... . I found that when the chips were down and our lives depended on it. All of my men w/o fail were ready to do whatever was needed to protect their brothers.

But your going to always run into some that resent your authority. Most of these types are would be leaders. The best way to deal with this type is to play on their egos. Even if they are about useless, try and make them feel important. Tell them how much you depend on their skill and knowledge.

I had one soldier that was so darn arrogant that I couldn't stand him and tried to transfer him out. As is the norm, this didn't work well and I approached him and told him that I needed a man I could count on to take some night patrols. I need a tough, self motivated person that was fearless and capable of bringing my 2nd squad home safely. He volunteered to take 2nd squad on all night patrols and solved my personal problem with him as I only saw him long enough to report on the nightly patrols.

[Hagar]

Ah - man-management. I suppose that should be called people-management these days but my interpretation of the term covers both sexes (genders). From this you see how difficult it can be to avoid upsetting somebody. I came up from the workshop floor to top management & ended up in a similar situation to you Nexus. Being in charge of people I'd worked alongside for years, many of them close friends. I'm afraid that some of this has to be sacrificed if you wish to do your job properly. I found it is possible if you can separate work from your personal life but this will depend on you & the individuals concerned. The relationship with your former colleagues will never be quite the same as before. In my experience, the strict, no-nonsense & sometimes abrupt types make the best managers so being popular with the staff is a disadvantage.

I've always been a friendly sort of person & I'm usually diplomatic & tolerant but I don't suffer fools gladly. I found handling people the most difficult & stressful part of my job. Some people can do it naturally but this usually has be learned the hard way. It's a bit like being a parent. Nobody teaches you (unless you attend management courses or have a degree in the subect) & if you get it wrong this can mess everything up on a permanent basis. Some people will never be able to handle others & are totally unsuited for management. Unfortunately many of this type of person are in management for various reasons. This sometimes involves dealing with people you personally dislike or have no respect for. It's all part of the job.

I find all the comments here interesting & generally agree with what has been said before. I always preferred the laid-back approach but this is not always possible. I also like to lead by example but as Paz points out, this usually ends up with me doing the job myself. Every situation is different & working in a office environment might be quite different to an engineering workshop. New situations crop up every day & I never ceased to be amazed at some of the things I had to deal with. Seeing things from the "other side of the fence" certainly gave me a new outlook on how difficult it is to run any company employing staff efficiently. It also gave me a new-found respect for my fellow managers, some of whom I'd previously disliked. Everyone is different & needs to be treated accordingly. Take each situation as it comes & handle it firmly & decisively, even if you're not sure you're correct. It certainly helps to have a sense of humour.

PS. My old boss often used to say with an exasperated look on his face: "This would all be so easy if it wasn't for the people".

[Smoke2much]

I agree with all of the above.  I've just been made a "Senior Staff Nurse".  This means that at times I'm in charge of people who were senior to me when I joined the department just 8 months ago.  It's never easy but you have to remember that the boss isn't there to be your friend, he/she is there to get the job done properly.  Sometimes this means being a little harsh but that's life.  I try to lead by example but sometimes you have to delegate to get things going, just be firm rather than commanding.

Will

[ozzy72]

just be firm rather than commanding

I love it when you get all domineering Will

[cableguy]

I was boss's right hand since i was about 15 on my first job.  He thinks i am responsible enough to be trusted with important stuff.  But here is the problem,  i love to do everything by myself, and when he put me in charge of 5 people like a year ago i kept doing all the work leaving them doing pretty much nothing.  I am not a very good leader, cause i dont make people do work, ill just do it all by myself.  I think if you want something done right, do it yourself.  But i am terrible follower also.  I want to do things the way i want to do them, i dont need my boss over my shoulder telling me what to do.  So I tell him, If you want me to do it right, and achieve the best results, let me do it by myself the way i want.  I am a loner.  Dont like warking in the groups or be in charge of a group.  

[eno]

I agree with most of the above.
My style is to gradually turn up the pressure when getting towards the deadline.
Here's my 10 point plan.
1... Have a clear goal ...... know exactly what, when and where you are working to. If its a specific date then plan the goals that have to be achieved and by what date you need to have them sorted.
2.... Have enough slack built into the plan, so that if things don't go quite right you are not playing catchup and rushing towards the deadline.
3... Delegate, choose the most supportive and useful personnel and give each of them a key goal, make sure they know they are responsible for achieving it. Trust them to do it without hinderance unless they cock up.
4. Offer help and advice at all times especially if those working for you are less experienced.
5. Use the experiences of those more experienced than yourself even if they work for you. They may have insites into how to make things run smoother that you hadn't thought of.
6. Make sure everyone reports everything back to you... this doesn't have to mean reports at the end of evey day  or week ..... just make sure that if someone has reached a goal or is struggling to make it YOU know. You should have  the full picture at all times.
7. Make sure everyone gets ALL breaks even if the deadline is getting tight and you are pushing to get the job done. People are more productive if they feel they are not being pushed too hard. I used to make sure that even if things were days behind my crew got their breaks and requested time off... See point 2.
8. Make it clear that YOU are in charge... but input from anyone else is welcome... see point 5.
9. Reward good work ... especially if the people you are working with are friends. We always used to go for a drink after a days work and tried to make sure everyone was included. I used to insist on everyone comming and clearing the air especially if I had given them a rousting during the day
10. THE MOST IMPORTANT.... ALWAYS SAY PLEASE AND THANKYOU. There's nothing worse than a boss or supervisor that you have busted a gut to get a job done for  ignoring your input wether it was good or bad. I used to make sure at the end of the day wether it was good or bad I went round and thanked everyone involved in the project. Likewise I never told people to do things I asked and made sure that it was clear if there was a problem then they could come to me. No one got a rousting unless they had blundered on without comming to check something with me.

There ya go I hope that helps along with everyone elses input.

[Jared]

umm, I prefer the kind where there's a set goal that has to be accomplished and everyone chips in and contributes to the cause, without having to be told to do it.

I've done supervision type work where I'm at now on occasion such as when the boss takes vacation etc, and I've found with the people I work with you pretty much have to tell each person what to do when. Which is nice because you know what is happening and when.

Overall a combination of both ways is a pretty good way to do it.. ;-)

[Scottler]

A good leader won't ask his subordinates to do something that he himself wouldn't be willing to do.

Remember, a leader isn't a leader unless he STAYS the leader.