How to stamp your authority at work

Stevi

Stevi

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Hi Guys and Girls,

So the place where I completed my internship last year has kept me on full time this year. (Happy days)
Four new interns have come in and I am in charge of some of their training and showing them the ropes.

The problem is that they don't seem to think of me the same way as some of the more senior people.
I'm thinking that I am only a year older than them and only just completed my internship last year might have something to do with it.

So my question is how do I stamp a bit of authority on them so they can show me the same type of respect as the older guys instead of thinking of me as one of them?

I don't want to take a Hitler approach but at the same time don't want them to think of me as a friend who they can get away with certain things (work is work)

Any experiences or advice you can pass on?

Thanks :)
 
Stop letting them get away with certain things? They'll get the picture eventually. Also, it's always lonely at the top.
 
Be fair, and apply it consistently, regardless if you rub someone the wrong way.

Nothing wrong with being unpopular for the right reasons, but be prepared to stand your ground.
 
Are the interns female?

Shag them.

Are they male?

Go and get drunk with them.

In both cases, problem sorted.
 
Stevi said:
So my question is how do I stamp a bit of authority on them so they can show me the same type of respect as the older guys instead of thinking of me as one of them?
Click to expand...

My question would be what is your motivation for feeling you need authority over them?

An air of authority is generally a BAD thing to me personally and I am less likely to want to listen to you if you want to "stamp it down" on me.

What's wrong with them seeing you as one of them? Many managers would see this as beneficial. You want your team to feel like you are one of them and not just the **** looking down on them giving orders.
 
Dress a bit smarter, have meetings with them where you lead, walk around ticking a clipboard.
 
Appearance is everything. Posture, tone of voice and seriousness, don't make good friends at the office and always be on time and leave last.
 
The problem is that they don't seem to think of me the same way as some of the more senior people
Click to expand...
Accept that senior staff command more respect than junior staff?

Demonstrate leadership and you'll earn their respect.
 
As SauRoNZA and others have said, why authority?

I am in charge of some of their training and showing them the ropes.
Click to expand...

You are not their boss, you are their colleague and your job is to train/teach them, if you're able to accomplish that then it doesn't matter how they see you, its your own ego getting in the way. Otherwise the best way to get respect is to earn it legitimately, work hard, be smart, demonstrate your knowledge etc.
 
SauRoNZA said:
My question would be what is your motivation for feeling you need authority over them?
Click to expand...
Not necessarily a need for authority, but when the time comes for me to give out tasks, they need to take it seriously and give 100%, and not feel that they can get away with a half arsed job.
Reason is when I started my internship there was a guy who was hard on us from the beginning and he quickly had us on the short and narrow, where another lady in the same rank as him took the friendlier approach and I saw how that backfired when deadlines and quality of work took a beating.
 
Joker said:
As SauRoNZA and others have said, why authority?

You are not their boss, you are their colleague and your job is to train/teach them, if you're able to accomplish that then it doesn't matter how they see you, its your own ego getting in the way. Otherwise the best way to get respect is to earn it legitimately, work hard, be smart, demonstrate your knowledge etc.
Click to expand...
^this

Also set out the ground rules early on, so they know exactly what is expected from them.

Ensure that the ground rules are fair and would be what you would like to experience if you were the intern.

Apply these ground rules consistently and fairly.

When you have meetings, take the lead and stay in control. Do not allow trolling and disruptions. Keep them short and to the point. Get in, say/do what must be done. Get out.

Nothing wrong with being friendly but don't show any favouritism. Treat them all equally and as peers, not underlings. One day one of them might be your boss!!

Work hard, play harder.
 
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Ye, I agree with Joker and SauRoNZA.

The fact is that you are not senior staff. You are essentially their peer. You do not manage them, you are not expected to ensure they meet targets etc. You are showing them the ropes and training them up.

Please do not take this the wrong way, but I would suspect that you went through a schooling system where one Grade higher demands respect of the grade below. So a Grade 9 can boss about a grade 8 etc.... That tiered system is nice at school, but in the working world. You are just a 2nd year grade 8 right now. Sure you have been through the syllabus already and these new interns are first year in. But you are all grade 8's right now. You just get paid for it now.

Be their peer first. The peer with superior knowledge and understanding. They should respect you for that, but accept that it is very possible that one of these interns will outstrip your knowledge within the next 12 months. If you spent 12 months trying to stamp your authority on them, an authority that was not justified. Then you may find yourself with a humble pie for dinner and a foot in your mouth.
 
Seems like you're trying to flaunt the fact that you were there first. You're their colleague, nothing more and nothing less. Just because you have to provide some training does not make you their boss. Heck my own boss is more of a friend than a boss. If you want to be a boss than you need to show leadership by taking initiative and demonstrating other managerial-type traits - and that does not include being one of the micro-managing dicks who want to stamp their authoritah...
 
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Promise I am on no power hungry mission :)
I know my place :D
Just looking for the best strategy for later in the year when their performances will be a reflection of mine.
I will be in charge of them for the rest of the year, the next two weeks are just their onboarding then it is crunch time. So I want to make the most of their training to ensure we have a good dynamic going forward :)
 
Stevi said:
Promise I am on no power hungry mission :)
I know my place :D
Just looking for the best strategy for later in the year when their performances will be a reflection of mine.
I will be in charge of them for the rest of the year, the next two weeks are just their onboarding then it is crunch time. So I want to make the most of their training to ensure we have a good dynamic going forward :)
Click to expand...

Others have pointed out that you are essentially their peer with a bit more experience.
All you can do is point out the right and wrong roads according to company policy.
You aren't paid to cr@p on them and if someone insists on the wrong road all you can do is warn of danger ahead.
After that it's no longer your indaba if your warning is ignored.
Guidance rather than firm direction will be best at this early stage.
 
nightjar said:
Others have pointed out that you are essentially their peer with a bit more experience.
All you can do is point out the right and wrong roads according to company policy.
You aren't paid to cr@p on them and if someone insists on the wrong road all you can do is warn of danger ahead.
After that it's no longer your indaba if your warning is ignored.
Guidance rather than firm direction will be best at this early stage.
Click to expand...
Noted :) Thanks
 
The best in your case to gain authority (where you don't have authority) is to lead by example.

If your work is better, or at least very good, they will respect you.
 
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