How to Supervise Staff Who do not Report to You

Few workers have such a poorly defined job as a middle manager; business school professors warn that they have responsibility with no authority. Such is the case when you supervise the work of a staff member who does not report to you. They know you don’t have the authority to discipline them, yet you are responsible for the way in which they get the job done. This may not be the most comfortable setup, but you can handle it. Read on to learn how to supervise staff who do not report to you.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Make certain the staff members understand why they are working under your direction. Perhaps there is a good fit between your area of expertise and their skill set; maybe you have been assigned to cross-train them; perhaps they are being considered for reassignment. Help the employees find a comfort level with this arrangement.
2. When possible, do not give the employees instructions or information that are at odds with what their boss is telling them. They will find this arrangement as awkward as you do.
3. Confirm that the employees know and understand what you expect of them. Encourage their boss to let you complete their performance evaluations, and let them know about the arrangement.
4. Help the employees achieve their goals while working under your guidance. Treat your relationship as a mentoring one, if that helps.
5. When an issue arises, do not cave if an employee argues that you’re not his boss. The boss has transferred the employee to your area for a reason, and he needs to acknowledge your supervisory role, even though he does not report to you.

Tips & Warnings

• Try to resolve any dispute or misunderstanding with the staff member before taking the problem to her boss.