XP: Leaders/Manger Questions

[just]

XP'd from ML

I'm not a new manager, but prior to this I was managing a team of people who did the same work as I had done previously as an employee. I found this relatively easy. I provided a general vision, helped with problem solving, offered wider perspectives, facilitated team development, and when necessary - I just got my hands dirty and did what needed to be done.



Now I'm a director of three very different departments - A/V, Helpdesk and Faculty Support. Two of which - I have no experience of. I know how to do maybe 1/3 (or less) of what my team members do in these new departments. Also, since we run a really lean department, these people are at the height of their profession, and it's not a case of just learning what they do so I can fill in.



I'm struggling on how to support and lead this type of team.



Somethings I'm doing ...

- I'm doing department weeks, where I embed myself in that department, go on all of their appointments, shadow them. Not to assess or judge, and not to try to learn everything, but to try and identify areas that my skills as a leader can and should help with

- Knowledge sharing session - if I don't know what these groups do, neither do their peers, so I'm trying to create monthly meetings where each department shares their day-to-day, or goals, or, challenges with all their peers - not just with me.

- I meet with the heads of these departments weekly and ask a shit ton of questions all the time.





Anything else you veteran leaders can offer?



ETA: Or people who have reported to someone in this type of position - what worked?

[konapoppy]

krystee gave good advice in the other thread.

How are the teams performing now? What has your leadership tasked you with? How do they support the strategy of the organization? Those will also inform how you support them.

If your directs are really at the height of their careers, a big piece may just be engaging and retaining them. What do they want from a career perspective? What exposure can you give them that they may not have had before? How can you work with your peers to make their lives easier?

You don’t have to answer these in the thread, but they are good for you to reflect on.