Working life today is full of constantly evolving challenges and pitfalls. When is it OK to date a coworker? Can you tell your team to get back into the office five days a week? Whether you’re a baffled Boomer, a muddled millennial, or a confused Gen Z-er, our brilliant columnist Nicola Horlick is here to help.
My firm wants me to be the leader of a small team. I am keen to progress, but there’s not a lot of extra money, and no one has talked about training. I am nervous, as the targets are demanding and a couple of people before me have not done that well in the role.
The team is made up of very different personalities – and abilities – so it will be tricky. Plus there are demanding managers above me.
I want to get on, but I don’t want to crash and burn. If I decline the job it would look bad and be a missed opportunity. How can I extract the promise of a better pay rise in future, and should I ask them for a place on a short course or other management training?
Yours, Petra.
Nicola replies: It’s normal to be nervous about a new role, especially if it involves managing other people.
From what you have said, it sounds as if your company is a little disorganised. You are right to think that extra responsibility should include a pay rise and, if you haven’t managed people before, you should be offered training and potentially a mentor or coach. You need to ask your boss if you can have a chat and then say you want to take on the role, but feel you should get a pay rise and some help to ensure you can do the best possible job for the company.
You shouldn’t worry about crashing and burning. Everyone questions their own ability when they start to move up the ladder and you will only know if you are any good at managing a team if you actually try. If you receive more money and proper support you will have every incentive to succeed. No doubt you will feel more than a touch of ‘imposter syndrome’ when you start the role but you will grow in confidence and, before you know it, you will be bedded down and feeling like you made the right move.
When I was 30, I was asked to manage a major fund management business. I experienced all the same questions as you and, having agreed everything with my boss, felt concerned about whether I would be able to handle the job or not.
There were some in the team who would have loved to see me fail, but others were very supportive. I made it clear that we were one team, there would be no politics and that our focus had to be on beating our competitors.
As the business had previously been failing, there was a deep desire within the team to turn things around. I wanted them to feel proud when they told people where they worked.
After a relatively short time, the business started to turn around and gained incredible momentum. As I gained in self-belief, so the team gained in confidence, and it became an incredible place to work for us all.
So, bite the bullet and talk to your boss about the terms on which you are prepared to step up. I have no doubt that you and your team will succeed if you provide them with a clear vision.
