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New Hires Promotions Conflict Communication

I am the newest employee in my department, and I believe I have been doing excellent work. When a supervisory position opened up, I was very fortunate and the position was given to me. Now there is serious resentment toward me from several employees who have been here longer. How do I deal with it?



When a new employee is promoted over others who have been around longer, that often promotes a good deal of resentment as well. Unfortunately, there is no quick fix.

The other employees are most likely feeling a combination of jealousy, resentment, frustration, and inequitable treatment, no matter how much you may have deserved the promotion. The only way for this negativity to simmer down is for you to demonstrate that management clearly made a great choice. This means that your supervisory style should be communicative, ethical, respectful, responsive, and focused on the needs and motivations of the individuals whom you supervise.

One simple step that can help you start out on the right foot is to correct a nagging problem in the department, such as by getting a broken copier fixed or getting another sorely needed computer. The idea is to let the employees literally see that there are going to be some real improvements with you as supervisor. Beyond that, you should take some classes in supervising. This will not only help you become the supervisor that management envisioned, but will also help you become the manager that you envisioned.



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