March 31st 2008
When to Say “I’m The Boss!”
Occasionally, every manager must use his or her authority to take over a difficult situation without explanation or discussion. At such times, pulling rank is not only acceptable, but necessary. Dr. Leland Forst, a vice president at the New York City office of the management consulting firm, A.T. Kearney, suggests scenarios when this arbitrary use of power may be called for:
- When you alone can save the day. “Sometimes the manager has information, know-how or authority that the employee lacks,” says Forst.
Example: A subordinate is making a presentation to a client group and you see them becoming uneasy or antagonistic. By virtue of your relationship with the client, your knowledge of confidential information, or just your position (people are generally less inclined to challenge a senior person), you can override the employee and steer things back on course. Continue Reading »
