Love them or hate them, we've all got an opinion of our boss. The way they head up a team can have a huge impact on your daily working life - which is why managing staff is fraught with pitfalls.
Leading a team badly risks making yourself very unpopular very quickly - and even turning staff against you. So, if you are about to take on your first management position, what should be avoided to ensure a harmonious relationship with your employees?
Trying to stay everyone's best pal is out, according to business psychologist Piers Hollier. It's a classic mistake, he pointed out in The Times, and managers promoted above their peers should plan for how new relationships will work rather than expecting everything to remain the same.
So, as well as examining what not to do in your first management job, we've decided to explore what it takes to be a successful leader in a live Q&A. Our panel of experts will be offering their advice about how to approach your first management role - join them at 1pm on 23 November.
Our panel will include:
Matt Evans is a senior consultant with ASK Europe - an international consultancy specialising in organisational development, leadership and management development and executive coaching. Matt designs and delivers programmes that support the needs of new managers.
Heather Eachus is a consultant with Getfeedback, a human resources consultancy specialising in the assessment and development of people at work.
Jodie Moore is a trainer who works for Kenexa, a company which provides business solutions for human resources. She delivers numerous programmes for first time managers within Kenexa's clients.
Nova Ferguson is an experienced communication skills trainer, manager and consultant who has spent 10 years developing and delivering bespoke training to large organisations and managers. Find out more at www.qa.com.
Richard Brown is the managing partner at London-based strategy consultancy Cognosis, where his work focuses on business strategy, organisation development and team building.
Kathryn Roberts is a director within the banking and finance team at Ambition, with many years' experience recruiting staff from graduate to executive level in the private and public sectors,and recently in the growing areas of change and project management.
Sam Cottle recently left a marketing job in the accountancy sector to undertake her first managerial role as business development manager at Right Angles PR.
Matthew Basham is a TV sector manager and representative for Skillset, which provides funding for leadership and management training aimed at people working in TV.
We'll also be joined by two representatives of the Chartered Management Institute:
Narinder Uppal focuses on enhancing the quality and recognition of CMI's management and leadership qualifications in line with regulatory and external accreditation requirements.
Patrick Woodman leads the CMI's policy and research programmes, helping to build greater understanding of the impact of management and leadership on organisational productivity and performance and upon wellbeing and health.
