I fear my direct report’s friendliness is making her an ineffective manager, help!

Question:
I have a manager who is friends with her team. I’m trying not to micromanage but I’m afraid that she’s not having the performance conversations she needs to have. What should I do? S.L., Summit, NJ

Answer: It is possible to manage friends, although it does have its own set of challenges. Without knowing why you believe she’s not having these conversations, it’s hard to be specific in my answer. However, if you think she feels uncomfortable because she’s not sure what to say, offer to role-play with her so you can be confident in her ability to say what is necessary to her direct reports.

Make it clear that you expect her to report back to you and provide you with updates on the progress of her team members towards the objectives she has set for them (e.g., employee is on a 90-day performance improvement plan, certain behaviors will be improved, etc.). She knows you will be holding her accountable and that she will be in the hot seat if she doesn’t follow through.