Shivani Misri Sadhoo on accepting your co- worker as your boss
To be able to accept your co- worker as your boss has a lasting effect on oneself professionally and personally, and needs to be tackled maturely
Many amongst us have faced or witnessed a situation where your office colleague and friend, suddenly was declared your new boss. Definitely, it’s an awkward situation for most of us. Since you suddenly need to behave and communicate formally with a person, whom you have considered your friend and possibly shared your personal and professional problems or have directed and guided him or her as a big brother. So how can you tackle such situation effectively if it happens in your life? Here are some tips:
ANTICIPATE AND ACCEPT THE CHANGE
No matter how you feel about your colleague becoming your new boss, you have to accept that the relationship between the two of you can no longer be the same. As a boss your colleague is now answerable to the top management, who will judge his/ her ability to maintain a healthy office environment - that includes the boss is not taken for granted and he/ she should not be perceived to be too friendly towards one particular subordinate.
BREAK THE ICE, CONGRATULATE
It’s very much possible that your new boss may probably expect some jealousy, resentment or maybe even fear a subtle sabotage from his/ her former colleagues. Gracefully congratulate your new boss and with complete honesty, tell that you will support your boss's future plans and will be his back. This will have much better returns for you in the long run vis- à- vis you show your dislike or express your unhappiness that you should have been given the promotion. Keep in mind, since your new boss has been selected by top management amongst you all, he/ she certainly enjoys better values, expectation and trust by the top management than you.
LET YOUR BOSS SET THE TONE
One dilemma is deciding how to act – whether to be casual or formal, whether to ignore or emphasise the change in the status, among others. Following your boss’s lead is the best way to avoid inadvertently crossing a line.
If you express agitation against your top management’s decision, you are probably going to face trouble in the coming times
STAY AWAY FROM COMPLAINING GOSSIPS
Since you colleague has been selected as the new boss of the department, chances are high that rest of your colleagues too are facing the dislikes, pain, and feeling that things have been unfair for them. So there would definitely some hatred, office gossips against your new boss. It’s advisable not to participate in those conversations. If you have to say something about the new boss to your rest of your colleagues and you can’t quite bring yourself to give some praises words then at least say something like, “Why don’t we give him a chance before we decide he’s going to be terrible?” When your colleague becomes your boss, it would be awkward for you both. But if you try to express agitation against your top management’s decision, you are probably going to face trouble in the coming times. Rather act graciously and professionally, and lay the groundwork for a successful working relationship.