It’s a tough transition to go from a “do-er” to a supervisor — trading in your hands-on tendencies to instead focus on oversight and motivating others. For those who struggle at the prospect of “telling” others what to do while in a supervisory role, I use the analogy of a one-man band and a conductor.
Before you have supervisory authority, you play all the instruments. When you’re a supervisor, you’re a conductor where you don’t directly play any instrument at all. The conductor doesn’t order the artist to play the violin or demand that the drums come in on cue; they have outlined clear expectations up front (the sheet music) and can play a role to direct and inspire the artists to join in when needed. It’s better music when the conductor is there helping everyone contribute in the best way possible,
Conducting looks easy, until you have to do it. Only then do all the nuances and intricacies show up and you realize that while you were pretty darn good at juggling all the instruments, this new role will take some practice. It’s a scary leap, but also a rewarding one.
If you’re in a junior position and haven’t yet been given the responsibility of supervising, practice your “conducting” skills in any way possible — heading a committee, a volunteer group, leading a neighborhood event, or organizing the family reunion. The more you can become comfortable in helping others succeed, the better prepared you will be to orchestrate your own team.
