I've been gradually sliding a supervisory role in my job (mainly by dint of everyone else with similar levels of seniority not being interested) and it's been a bit of a challenge because I'm an academic and a research nerd and not a manager. My supervisees are all good folks but they haven't been getting important parts of their jobs done and it's negatively impacting the org. I need to learn how to get them finish their crap but the descriptions of most management books stick to my skin in a way that feels hard to wash off. Does anyone know of good books/etc that won't make me talk like an MBA program replaced my soul with foam packing peanuts?
Edit: Thanks for all the really thoughtful responses, it's a huge help.
Call mandatory meetings at every possible opportunity and when you do pull a chair in front of the group then, and this next part is critically important, turn the chair around backwards and sit down. This will show you to be relatable and just like them.
Make sure to address them as "sport" a bunch of times too, this will make everybody feel like they're a part of a family, and people love that. Also, pizza parties
If you did that (not at every opportunity) and then only addressed me when something was wrong, explained why you had to talk to me, and used a couple curse words, you'd be in my top 3 managers I've ever had.
Don't forget to do the Chris Rock black people vs n-words routine in its entirety.