Caution: This article contains spoilers for The Good Place. If you aren’t up to date, go binge watch and come back.
At the end of season three, Michael (Ted Danson) had a meltdown that forced Eleanor (Kristen Bell) into the lead role as the neighborhood’s architect. It was an on-the-spot promotion that she didn’t ask for. She was, however, the best choice for the job.
And in the beginning, things are going well. Eleanor is confident. She’s got a great staff. Michael is functioning again and can mentor her. Janet still knows everything.
Then the problems start, and they are different than the issues she faced in her previous role. And suddenly, her team members–who were so supportive when she was the unofficial team lead–are now angry and frustrated with her failed leadership.
To keep reading, and to see a The Good Place video clip, click here: The Good Place’s Eleanor Has a Meltdown that All Managers Can Relate to
There’s a big difference between the team leader who backs up the person in charge and being that person in charge, as you go from being the person who has been the most reliable to get the job done to the person who has to motivate the team to get the job done. In other words, you need to find/develop your backup person. You have entered a situation from having a leader to set the tone to have to do this for all your team members. The ones complaining about your “poor” management skills are so used to “doing their version” of the job that any changes to performance are traumatic. You didn’t fully notice this prior to assuming your new position because you were helping the person in charge achieve the job goals that individual input from the others wasn’t in your focus. That’s the adjustment you have to make.