With appropriate fanfare and hoopla, unveil the "secret of management."
Which is: 90% of what you'll be asked to do is impossible.
Don't worry about it. Figure out what Really Needs to be done. Focus on keeping your team productive and deliver something of value every iteration. (In a boat we call it Losing Steerageway, if we are not moving forward enough to steer. This is when we wreck our boat. Don't do this.)
Declaration of Interdependence "We increase return on investment by making continuous flow of value our focus."
Caution: Don't flip off your manager. To avoid this:
- Get to know your manager. This means spending time with him/her.
- Be respectful and polite. (remember - shades of pink - as Alistair says.)
- Ask your manager for advice.
- Negotiate your team's mission with your manager.
- All the while delivering value.