I was asked to be a supervisor in a group I’ve never worked in. After reading comments on here about supervisors I am hesitant to accept. Anyone else been in this situation? What did you do? Seems no matter what you do people won’t be happy and will be looking to take you out rather than help you.
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Advancement to senior levels often requires assignments outside of your home organization. Having this type of assignment early in your career keeps the door open for future opportunities. Take the assignment.
I don't understand your hesitation. That is completely normal and has been for decades. If youre being asked by management then accept the position and they will support you. There is no other way.
Saying "NO" in today's assessment system will result in an NSI ranking at the next performance cycle because you are not a cultural fit. Saying "YES" at least gives you a higher probability of avoiding NSI.
You go into a new group unaware of the existing politics there. If you stick your head up too soon, you will pay a price as it is hammered back down. It is less about supervising the actual work and more about navigating the political waters. Be a good observer and good listener until you get the lay of the land, then proceed cautiously.
Some of the responses are earnest, and others brutally frank.
Fact is - being a supervisor in EM is about as dead of an end you could hope for.
Lose your skills and be stranded from anything outside. Sorry to say.
IMO...If you are able to learn real supervisory skills with this position, take it. Learn what you can, do the best you can, get the experience. Next, apply for jobs with other companies and move on, before it's too late.
Any assignment outside of your home function is a lot riskier now with the changes to the ranking system. There used to be a tacit agreement between functions that if you lent an employee out, they'd be somewhat protected in the new group's ranking - those days are gone. So now, getting cross functional experience, which is a great thing for both the employee and the company, is going to be much less common.
You are never asked! You are told!
And 90% of EM supervisors start as supervisors in groups they never worked. If you worked in EM you would know.
If you're not competent in the area they want you to supervise you'll be a perfect fit.
No one is asked to take a supervisory position.
It has to be begged for, with plenty of rect0m slobber involved.
You gets what you ask for, in other words.
Try harder.
@axx+1dlwDC70 I had the same thing happen due to a reorg. Fortunately I managed to get out fairly unscathed because I saw it coming, but it has made me a much more suspicious person.
I was in a stretch assignment and got ki---d. Not by the group but by my new supervisor. I am guessing he wanted someone else in this role but got me. Tells you something about how clueless is your own management.
It sounds like you’re a bad fit for a supervisory job period, because you’re still centering the conversation on yourself