Advice for Taking Over for Burnt Out Team?
This is not my first management experience, but is unique for a few reasons. Background: I know my boss is leaving my department, the team knows, and I know that I'll be sliding into the role, moving up from an individual contributor type of role. I am a high performer, and have struggled with having higher expectations than my peers. They know this. They respect me, but I know they think I can be too intense at times. I am the opposite of my current boss in that he would like to avoid conflict, keep the peace, and be everyone's buddy. It worked, until it didn't.
We are a small team of 6 that has experienced a great deal of ups and downs over the past two plus years. My boss has been burnt out for awhile, and allowed some bad habits to set in from a performance, punctuality, and communication standpoint. We've seen some clique type stuff, a general loss of professionalism, and apathy.
The team is also overworked and struggling under the weight of new corporate expectations, stemming from an acquisition of the company 6mos ago. Our facility metrics suck, the pressure is on to improve, so I'll be dropped right into the fire.
I have no problem having difficult conversations. I have no problem calling out all the bullshit I've seen go on for a while. But my question to you all is, when and how to address it?
Should I let the team have more time to process our boss's departure? Have some clear the air conversations? Go in soft and try to let people vent and be heard? Come in hot off the bat and just demand a buy in? I don't want to push anyone else out the door too quickly, because of the increased workload it will cause, and what we do is fairly niche so there is a decent amount of tribal knowledge that would walk too.
Any advice would be appreciated, always enjoy the insight here. Thank you!