My manager no longer wants to manage my team, I have problems with the new potential manager

Submitted by Aaron Gruff
in
Career Management

 Hi Manager Tools,

I'm team lead on several projects.  My manager has decided to give up his responsibilities around my team and hand them over to a peer who I do not have a real relationship with and I'm worried does not respect my opinions.  He has not been involved in any of the projects I lead.

My preferred outcome would be for me to report to a different team whose manager I'm working jointly with on several projects.  Is it worth suggesting the possibility to my manager, or does that count as undermining my new boss.

My current boss did coach it as 'considering' the other guy to be the manager.  Though I suspect he did so to pretend that my opinion matters and that the decision has already been made.

Submitted by Glenn Ross on Tuesday February 5th, 2013 8:58 am

Is it worth suggesting to your manager? That depends on the relationship the two of you have. If you can do it informally and conversationally, then I don't see it as undermining your new boss. Given what you've told us, it makes better sense for you to report to the other manager.
But let's say that, for whatever reason, you wind up reporting to your peer. It's time for you to start building that relationship. That's the only way your peer will start to respect your opinions.
Also, now might be the time to reflect on why he or she doesn't respect your opinions. Is it something in your past actions that have contributed to this? If so, what can you do about them?

Submitted by Robert Lynch on Wednesday February 6th, 2013 9:22 am

I think GlennR is right -- how to proceed depends on your relationships.
If you have a relationship with your boss where this sort of thing can be discussed, it's a good time to ask whether the handoff decision is done or whether it's still open. "You said you were consdering handing the team off to Person X. Are you still weighing options, or is that pretty much a done deal?"
If your boss is still weighing options, your reasons for choosing one potential manager over another might be useful. If it's a done deal, it's time to prepare for your new boss. There's a cast for that, though it may be labeled "managing through mergers and acquisitions."
Solitaire's right, too. Look into DISC indicators to see how you can communicate better with the potential new boss -- it can help you elsewhere, too.
I don't think people respect my opinions, but my D is so low I should be in therapy. :)
flexiblefine
Houston, Texas, USA
DISC: 1476