When 'managing up' is part of your job description, tread with care
When you get hints that part of your job is to help your new manager become more mature and effective, you're surrounded by landmines -- and opportunities
Follow @ITCatalystsDear Bob ...
I recently accepted a transfer offer that will unite me with my direct supervisor, who is the IT Operations Manager. I am a System Administrator with more than 25 years of various experience. My boss is younger than I am with less experience. I am getting conflicting "visions" from my boss and his boss, the IT director (who is more my age, probably with more experience than I have).
My boss sees my transfer as "empire-building." He has already consolidated servers from remote locations to his location, and replaced remote System Administrators with new employees at his location. To be honest, his location is more dynamic with more potential for growth because it delivers more than half of the corporation's profits.
[ There's more than one occasion to "manage up," and Bob Lewis has another example to share | Get sage advice on IT careers and management from Bob Lewis in InfoWorld's Advice Line newsletter. ]
My boss' boss (IT Director) sees this as more of a step up for me -- almost an assistant manager of IT operations -- though, of course, no one is calling it that. But his comments to me were along the lines of: "We need more maturity at that location" and "Your boss is too bogged down in the day-to-day fire fights and I need him to take a more strategic view, which he can do with you there to handle more of the daily activities."
So, my question is: What should I be wary of in taking this transfer? I've already signed up for it and I want to be at that location anyway, so I am committed to making this work.
- Transferrer
Dear Transferrer ...
What to be wary of? Start with yourself.
You say your boss sees your transfer as empire-building. Unless he's spoken those words to you or to someone he trusts, I doubt he does. It's more likely he sees the benefits of centralization more than he sees the drawbacks, or perhaps has analyzed the situation carefully and thinks the benefits simply outweigh the drawbacks. Even if he's just rationalizing, I doubt he consciously said to himself, "You know, this would be a great way to help build my empire."
Before you consider anything else, consider your personal feelings toward the guy. For the transfer to work to your advantage, the two of you are going to have to trust each other, and the ball is in your court, not his. (In case you aren't clear why: It's because you can do something about your own attitudes, and you have more skin in the game.)
So give the guy the benefit of the doubt, and when you aren't sure, ask him how he arrived at his conclusion.
