Facing transition blues at work

You never know what to expect in a new job, a friend told me last week. The promotion she strived for over several months obviously has come with a great unpleasant surprise — a stalker.

"No, it is not a real stalker," she quickly added in response to my apparent shock. "Even though I wish I could call the cops."

It turned out it is her former boss who was promoted and moved to a different department but does not seem to have moved on. He tries to follow her work in every possible way, keep track of what she does and provide comments and advice to make sure "things get done right".

I could definitely understand how this attitude could complicate her start on a new job. It is a nightmare in many workplaces when a promotion takes a person out of his or her position but they think and feel obliged to provide their input because, in their view, they know the job better than the newcomer.

My advice was to take a firm stance in rejecting this kind of unsolicited input and to clearly establish that it is unacceptable and unwelcome. This is not only to make her journey on the job easier but it is also to help her former boss to reconsider his conduct and divert his attention in the right direction.

However, I understand to a certain extent, how some of those who move up and don't move on might not mean any harm by offering help. They may be struggling themselves with the change and the new job's requirements. Exercising some control, even if unwelcome, may provide some relief — which isn't a justification in itself, but understandable.

If you find yourself in such a situation when you worry too much about the job you left behind, here are a few tips to deal with the transition blues.

Musical chairs

It might be hard to move on after years of holding a certain position. No one can just stop caring about what they've cared about it for months or years. However, mobility is the norm in modern workplaces. So instead of being stuck in worrying about how your old tasks are being done, look at the bigger picture and how the new structure does, or doesn't, help collective goals.

If you're moving for the first time to a supervisor position, you may need to develop your managerial skills as well in order to avoid falling into a micro-management trap that will impede your own progress and drives everyone around you crazy.

Delegation mentality

You might find it easier to see someone else doing your old job if your workplace has encouraged a healthy culture of delegation where individual pride and sense of accomplishment is usually derived from the team success. If you've moved to a supervisor position, your ability to back off a bit will help the newly promoted to your job to experiment, establish his or her own direction and eventually grow into the position.

Reporting connections

If you've been promoted within your company or moved to a different department, the reporting lines have definitely changed. Sensitivity is usually high during such times of change and a comment or advice given casually to a former subordinate may hurt the new boss' ego. Before you open your mouth, make sure you're not stepping on someone's toes. Good intentions and work interest are not often acceptable excuses. So think before your volunteer your help or your comments.

Documented handover

If you're seriously concerned about your old job and think you have loads of specific knowledge of the job that might not be available without your input to the newcomer, insist on a documented handover. You can include anything you would like to communicate regarding the job in itself, contacts, problems, etc. and leave with a note that you'll be happy to make time for any clarification or help if needed without pushing your services beyond the handover process.

Looking forward

Your focus should be on the future challenge unless you're formally requested to do otherwise. If the person who has taken over your place is reporting to you, allow him or her plenty of room to bring their own perspective rather than maintaining the status-quo which you maintained. You'll still have the authority and power to interfere if things are going seriously wrong.
 

Moving on

Rania Oteify, a former Business Features Editor at Gulf News, is a freelance journalist based in Salt Lake City, Utah.