In your interview, how do you find out if your (potential) two mangers are aligned

I went for an interview where I was asked the question “How do you manage conflicting tasks from two mangers when the task is due at the same time?” It didn’t dawn on me at the time but that new job was very likely to be reporting to two managers.

Working in an environment where you report to two managers can be confusing and frustrating dilemma. From a recent HBR blog post, more and more “global organizations like IBM and GE are embracing the matrix organizational model,” so there’s a good chance you’ll encounter them as you look for jobs in the future. This is especially true if you work in a software project environment.

This type of working structure is known as the matrix management.

In my experience, I have a “direct line” boss who does my performance review and decides on my personal development and an “in direct line” boss who is the project lead assigned on a project. This can be my direct boss or another boss from a technical team. In the case where I had two different bosses, it is easy to see how difficult a job can be if my two bosses aren’t in agreement about my work or my abilities.

According to Priscilla Claman who wrote on HBR blog “Are you considering a job with two mangers?” there are 3 questions you can ask in your interview to sus out if your potential new managers are aligned and can work with you without competing with each other.

Are your managers aligned?
During the interview with both managers, ask 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, that is a problem to solve with your direct boss before you accept the position. They won’t always agree, but if they have similar goals, you should be able to manage your relationship with both of them.

What are their perceptions of each other?
Another clue to your future success is the attitude one department has about the other. Try asking each potential manager: “What are the people like who work there?” or “How have you worked best with them in the past? Can you give me an example?” In this case, the information you want is not so much in the content of the answer, but in the attitude and language of the boss you are talking to. If you get any whiff of “us vs. them,” that’s a bad sign.

What’s the general attitude towards collaboration?
Both managers have to be collaborative for you to be successful on the job. Listen to how each talks, not just what each says. Do they talk about themselves all the time? Are they always saying “I” and never “we?” Never mind if they talk about “teamwork” or “customer service.” Do they actually act as if they do it?

Arm with these questions, you can stand a better chance of knowing up front whether your potential two managers are aligned.

What other ways could you find if your two managers are aligned?