Loud Thinking August 29, 2013 at 05:54PM

Before Taking on Dual Managers, Assess Their Alignment

It’s pretty common these days to have more than one manager. But having two (or more!) bosses can be challenging. If you’re interviewing for such a position, try to investigate whether your managers are on the same side. If not, you’ll have trouble from day one. Ask your potential managers something like, “In my first 30 days in this job, what are the most important things for me to accomplish?” If they have different priorities, kindly point that out and ask how the conflicts will be resolved. Of course they won’t always agree 100%, but if they have similar goals or are willing to work with each other amicably to resolve potential clashes, you should be able to manage your relationship with them.

Adapted by HBR from “Are You Considering a Job with Two Managers?” by Priscilla Claman

Tags: My Views