Managing your friends ain't easy

by Matthew Osborn | Aug 30, 2002 7:00:00 AM

Takeaway: Transitioning from developer to manager can be tough, but it's tougher when you have to manage your former peers. These tips will help smooth that transition.

One of the toughest jobs a manager faces is running a team of people who used to be your peers. There's no perfect solution when your friends become your direct reports, but here are some tips for starters.

Let 'em vent
Set aside time at your weekly team meeting for complaining. Take notes and follow up with solutions, and offer updates at later meetings. Your former peers, now your direct reports, will start to see you as a leader who follows through on promises. Read more on teaching people to complain constructively in the Builder.com article "Griping employees? Teach them to do it right."

Open your door, but not too wide
Invite your team members to stop and chat whenever they want or need to, but begin to put a little bit of space between you and them. That space is important because, one day, you may have to lay off or discipline some of them.

Don’t wimp out
You’re not “one of the gang” anymore, and you can’t please everyone all of the time. Your former peers may test your mettle by forcing you to settle disputes. You can earn respect by demonstrating your willingness to make tough calls.

Protect and praise your people
One of the best things you can do for your team members is to act as a buffer between them and the company’s executives. Praise your people in front of other managers. Stick your neck out for your team, and ask for more time when projects hit legitimate delays.

Encourage professional growth
Look for management training or mentoring programs to help your new reports enhance their skill sets and their opportunities for professional growth. If your company offers a mentoring program, use it. If it doesn’t have a mentoring program, start one.

You can expect a few bumps along the way, but if you survive, you'll have a huge amount of management experience under your belt.

Read more
For more information on transitioning from developer to manager, read "Making the transition from developer to manager."

2 comment(s)