Challenge to Manage: Seniors in the Team

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How to deal with the Challenge of managing Senior Resource in Team?


Globalization combined with increasing competition for revenue and profitability has created opportunities which are un-imagined in developing places. This has triggered the in-organic growth of people with talent, or those who found themselves in right place at right time.

 How do we deal with resources who are Senior by age and experience and you happen to be the fortunate to lead the team?

 This definitely is not rocket-science but needs skill and sensitivity and is mandatory for all those who wish to continue, the in-organic growth to success.

 Here is a 5-point checklist:

 #1. Respect the experience and seniority; you earn respect by giving respect, not demanding one.

 #2. Do not try to dominate them by Hierarchy, demonstrate leadership by Knowledge and Innovation.

 #3. Empowering them for key-challenges helps handle the ego and minimize the initial resistance.

 #4. Leverage the experience to delegate important tasks and make them participative.

 #5. Lead by example and become a Solution provider when necessary.

 Please do suggest and more inputs are welcome.
Happy Managing.

Comments

Jay said…
Nice post. But I have one query. These points seems to be useful when you have the authority and senior team members to handle. But, how to deal with senior team members without an authority. How to get things done properly ?
5:05 AM
Nachiket Khare said…
Very good article and nice pointers to follow. I have a question Manoj - a friend of mine had an argument with me - that Leadership quality deteriorates over a period of time - what you think? Anybody reading this article please feel free to add your thoughts.
I am of the opinion - it may not be displayed, one may have a bad patch / bad luck / poor circumstances but the core of the individual specially good qualities don't deteriorate..
2:47 AM
Manoj Vanjari said…
Hi Jay,
Thanks for your query.
If you do have a senior team member and if he does not have authority, something is wrong.
It would make great advantage of you empower him, this will develop loyalty to you and a support for your initiatives.
Also since senior team member is not having authority you can lead by your hierarchy combined with knowledge.
1:11 AM
Manoj Vanjari said…
Hi Nachiket,
This is a great thread you initiated and one of my favourite debatable one.
I agree Leadership does not deteriorate with years. If it should it must become better.
But sometimes success succeeds and mostly it does impact the wise and noble also.
We have good such stories from history.
Also Leadership is function of parameters(People,Opportunity, Environment and Market). Sometimes if one of them for eg Market is very volatile and incidentally not a good opportunity exists then best of people will still fail in the given environment inspite of a Good leadership.
But it is a transitional and learning patch. Good leader will get the above parameters under optimum for Success.
1:16 AM
Jay said…
Thanks Manoj.
What I have understood from this is, please correct me if I am wrong, one need to set an example by technical as well as leadership skills. So that senior team members will be in favour of you and they will start respecting your views.
7:46 AM
Manoj Vanjari said…
Hi Jay,
Yes your understanding is correct.

Thanks,
Manoj
8:48 PM
Steve Hemmady said…
Very nice post.
8:43 PM
Steve Hemmady said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
8:43 PM
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