Q: My boss recently told me that I am not management material. This was very upsetting. Even though I don't have a degree, I do have years of experience and have trained many people. I get along with everyone and frequently get positive feedback about my work.
When I joined this company, the business was just starting to take off. Because of the growth, they are planning to hire other people to help with my work. I feel that I could supervise them, but my boss says "no." What can I do to become management material?
A: Don't be too disheartened by your boss's pessimistic assessment. You simply may not fit the management profile that he or she is looking for right now.
Rapidly growing companies often don't have time to take novice managers through the learning curve. Instead, they bring in experienced outsiders who are equipped to handle the challenges posed by expansion.
Continued growth will bring future opportunities, however. So if management is your goal, start preparing yourself. Ask your boss to describe the characteristics he or she values in a manager, then work on demonstrating them.
Find role models in management and study their behavior. Look for books, workshops or Internet resources to educate yourself about management and leadership. And, if you can, start working on that degree.
Finally, seek out opportunities to lead committees or head up projects. This will sharpen your leadership skills and provide clear evidence that you may indeed be management material.
If you have a professional human resources department, discuss your career goals with the HR manager. And don't let your discouraging boss dampen your ambitions. This lack of interest in your development may indicate that he or she isn't such a great manager.
Q: I have trouble working with the people on my team. I want to focus on my job, but they like to laugh, chat and gossip. They tease people and call them names for fun, but the names they call me aren't very funny. I'm thinking about asking my boss to move me to another team, where it seems quieter. He believes we're a happy group, so I'm not sure what reason to give.
A: Are your co-workers trying to be mean, or do they have a rowdy sense of humor? If their name-calling includes offensive terms, such as racial or ethnic slurs, that's out of line. But if they just like to hand out nicknames, they may be treating you as one of the gang.
Before considering a move, check out the other group to be sure that it's really an improvement. And unless your colleagues are doing something truly inappropriate, don't complain to your boss. Because he views this as a happy team, he might decide that you are the problem employee.
If you do ask to switch, offer a business reason, such as developing new skills or tackling new challenges. Or you simply may say that a quieter environment will help you concentrate on work.
Should you decide to stay put, try to get along with your talkative team members. Unless they intend to be cruel, they may have no idea that their jokes are offensive. Either discuss your hurt feelings or adjust to their boisterous, chatty work style.
- Marie G. McIntyre is an Atlanta-based workplace coach. Her weekly column is syndicated by Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service. Send questions at www.yourofficecoach.com.