If you ever got reamed out by your boss, did you know they hated it too?

[Hans Delbrook]

I have to sit one of my reports down tomorrow and give her a (for lack of a better term) stern talking to about her "people skills." Of course, it will go crappy because she can't deal w/ confrontation and she's passive aggressive because she has LOUSY PEOPLE SKILLS!

Arrghhh. Sorry to shout but I hate this part of managing people.

Long story short - I lost a great person today and even though she wasn't the whole story she's enough of it that I have to do something. She's going to take a communication course and get better at this or she's going on probation. The "counseling" just hasn't worked.

Anyway, this whole situation has ruined my day, my night and is guaranteed to ruin my day tomorrow. Shit, why can't people just get the work done and save the drama for their mama?

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. Being a manager - if you want to be a good one, and don't want

to be manager just for the power - is a thankless, difficult job. Because a good manager feels for the failures of the people, and really wants to help them succeed and get better.

Kudos to you for feeling bad about having to help this person! And kudos to you for not just firing her. A good manager is a mentor and a teacher, who helps his/her people excel - which also means finding their bullshit points and exposing them and making them get fixed.

But yeah, it's fuckin' hard sometimes. Like raising a child - the ol' tough love thing.

[Hans Delbrook]

2. Yes, you're right.

And I am a good manager (not just my opinion - I've been told so by many, many of my people.) But it really does take it's toll. I wonder, can I really do this for 15 more years??

And I guess it is like raising kids but the funny thing is... I'm childless by choice :eyes:

[Rabrrrrrr]

4. No, you've chosen to raise children in a different way!

I asm childless at home, but I have chosen a life of raising of other people's children (real children - specifically, teenagers).

I love managers who feel that part of their mission is to help their people succeed; and feel that their job is not about tanking the ones who don't "measure up". Though I also don't want a manager who isn't willing to tank the ones who really don't measure up.

[mondo joe]

5. Having kids was my best training to be a manager

And I DO NOT mean because I'm like the adult and the people I manage are like kids.

But having kids was a good training in trying to look at the situation you're in with a focus OTHER than your own satisfaction.

Having kids was great training in not taking personally what is said to you by the people you supervise, and focusing on the long term goals rather than immediate emotional response.

[mourningdove92]

15. But it really does take it's toll. I wonder, can I really do this for 15 m

....I have been having the same thoughts lately. I can't think of anything else I would want to do, and I love the challenge of managing employees. I love the success stories and watching a new team member grow.

But man, some days just suck. My whole week has sucked. Been down 2 team memberS everyday this week, and I sometimes think someone has placed a giant, blinking "COME IN HERE" sign outside our ER.It has been a total zoo.

[Hans Delbrook]

16. Man, I hear that

I have been "daydreaming" about what else I could do but when I really handle a situation well or bring out the best in someone - it' such a rush.

But not lately; I lost two really good people in the last two weeks.

It's gotten so bad that every time I look up and see one of my people standing in the doorway - I jump. I told the one he now has to preface every talk w/ "I'm not quitting..."

I've started interviewing but I'm definitely going to lose some productivity w/ those two gone.

It's weeks like this that I think of taking my catering "hobby" to a full-time job but then if I get successful, I'll have to hire some staff and I'll be right back here. :shrug: You can't really win.

[mondo joe]

3. As a supervisor only wish is that I won't be called on to do it

My general supervisory policy is "don't let anything rise to the level that will require me acting like a supervisor".

I think the people I supervise do a great job. I don't enforce a number of rules that I properly should - I don't care if their cell phones ring at their desks. I don't care if they stretch out lunch or breaks a bit. I don't worry about the PRECISE time they get in or leave.

And as long as we're all getting the work done, I think that's a fair trade. I'd rather they like to come to work, as much as possible.

But there's one person who just has to push it. Her breaks are WAY too long, and too often, and she goofs off a lot while the work isn't done.

I'm probably going to have to TALK with her soon.

[Hans Delbrook]

6. Yeah, catch it early

I like to give my people a lot of leeway too (I don't care about the bs as long as the work gets done and done right) but I take action as soon as someone tries to take advantage. And then I tell them - "Now you've lost my trust - YOU have to do the work to regain it."

And you know what - it always seems that there is that one who has to take advantage. But I try to remember that most people want to do good work and want to be trusted.

[mondo joe]

8. Unfortunately this person doesn't care about my trust or anything else

She just doesn't care.

Everyone else on the team wants to do a good job. But this particular person is just killing time.

I didn't hire her - I 'inherited" her when I took the job.

I think she's very smart and capable, but she doesn't give a crap. :-(

[Hans Delbrook]

11. I inherited this one too

She only two years younger than me and bitter that her career hasn't gone better but she seems oblivious to the fact that her attitude, temper and language are what holds her back. Now she's bitter and just gets worse all the time.

On the even crappier to deal w/ side she has a difficult marriage/home-life and I know some of it because it's bled into work.

Some days I really miss working at the bench.

Oh well, I shouldn't whine too much - I always say it's lonely at the top but ya' dress better and you get a door. ;)

[givemebackmycountry]

10. Mondo Joe excellent post....

I supervise 10 guys, on two different shifts.

5 on the swing shift and 5 on the midnight shift and I split my time between the two.

Mids guys on Monday and Tuesday - Wednesday is my transition day where I sleep and get ready for the swings guys on Thursday and Friday.

10 guys. All from mid 20's up to very early 40's.

I'll be 50 in April.

I like the "don't let anything rise to the level that will require me acting like a supervisor" line because that's my philosophy.

I'm very generous with my time and I bring in food (pizza and BBQ) several times a month to keep 'em happy.

I'll let them push me, but they know how far, because those who committed unbearable offenses like leaving early on a Saturday when I wasn't there, got laid off when the hatchet fell.

They understand that if they cross the line, when we are told to reduce our head count, I'm looking at them FIRST.

But they are like children and they need to be praised and disciplined when needed.

You can't ever let them think your weak or uncaring.

Especially the young ones.
They just seem to think that success should be handed to them.

On the job for six months and don't know squat and they want a 20% raise in a climate where maybe my highest performer will be lucky to get a 4% raise.

But, I love it and I'm good at it.

No one has cussed me out yet!

[Hans Delbrook]

13. How long have you been managing people? nt

[givemebackmycountry]

14. Five years

And we have very little turnover primarily because everyone likes the management team.

As long as they handle our customers (I work in a data operations center) and some of them pay us BIG money, several in excess of 10 million a month, they know they are going to be OK.

Last year, we were the only shop in our company (and we are one of the big three, not the crooks, and not the old guys) to meet all of our numbers in customer satisfaction and mean time to repair.

I let them know this at all times...

It's a two way street, and if you try to get something by me, you may get run over when your not looking.

I have to say, they don't cause me to lose any sleep at night!

And I have four of them working RIGHT NOW.

[Ladyhawk]

7. Most of the managers I've seen don't care.

I'm glad that you do. :)

[Rabrrrrrr]

9. By the way, love the name!!

Much better than that other name...abbie something.

[Hans Delbrook]

12. Thanks

Though today was much more a "abbie-something" than "scientist and saint day.":o