How Do You
Follow a Superstar?
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Your Office Coach is copyrighted to Marie G. McIntyre. All rights
reserved.
May be reproduced
with copyright and attribution to
www.yourofficecoach.com.
Succeeding in a new job
is easy when the person before you was a complete disaster. But what do
you do if your predecessor was a Superstar who has now gone on to
greater glory? Here are some suggestions:
§
Don’t
be intimidated by the Superstar’s reputation.
There are no perfect people. Your predecessor has strengths and
weaknesses just like anyone else.
§
Look
for ways to leverage your own strengths.
In any job, there are opportunities for improvement. Determine where
your particular abilities can make a good situation even better.
§
Don’t
view this as a competition.
You do not need to prove that you are better than the Superstar. You
simply need to make your own mark. After all, you’ve already “won” by
being selected for the job.
§
Never
badmouth the Superstar.
You will not make yourself look better by attempting to make your
predecessor look worse. In fact, you will just appear petty and
jealous. Acknowledge and appreciate what the Superstar did well.
§
Get a
clear definition of “success” from your manager
. Meet with your new
boss - and other managers, if appropriate - to discuss their hopes and
expectations for your position. Without trashing the Superstar, ask
where they feel improvements are needed. Set goals in these areas.
§
Talk
with customers (internal or external)
. Those who are served
by your organization undoubtedly have suggestions for improvement. Meet
with some of them, then give your boss a summary of their views. Be
sure to include comments about strengths as well as improvement needs.
§
Develop mutually helpful relationships with colleagues.
The Superstar did not succeed alone, and neither will you. Good
relationships with co-workers will help you become more successful.
§
If
your predecessor is now your boss, be sure not to appear critical.
An overly sensitive manager might view any change as an implied
criticism of her own prior actions or decisions. If so, be even more
mindful of the need to appreciate her strengths and contributions. Put
extra effort into “managing up”.
§
Learn
from the Superstar.
Again, this is not a competition. The Superstar may still be
influential with those above you, so you want him on your side. You are
not trying to beat him; you just want to make your own mark. Create an
opportunity to discuss your work. Ask how he believes you can take your
work to the next level or what he would do next if he were still in the
job. Be sure to express appreciation for good work that that was done
previously.
If you are a manager . . .
§
Form a
bond with your direct reports
. You want to be sure
that this winning team accepts you as their leader. (Your boss may have
made you their manager, but they will decide whether you are their
leader.) Getting a new manager is always an adjustment, so help them
understand how your own leadership style may differ from that of your
predecessor.
§
Look
for ways to help your team succeed.
Since you have inherited a winning group, learn from them. Meet with
your direct reports individually to discuss what they need from you to
be successful. As a side benefit, this will provide clues to your
predecessor’s weak points without your even asking. If you are a middle
or upper manager, meet with and learn from employees at all levels.
If you handle this
transition well, you are likely to become a Superstar yourself!
Copyright Marie G.
McIntyre. All rights reserved. May be reproduced with copyright and
attribution to
www.yourofficecoach.com .
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