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Any advice on how to manage people?
Funguy McAids
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So without actively seeking to I find myself in a position of managing employees for a business that my wife and I have built up. We've hired a few employees, some of which are my friends/co-workers at my full-time job. I really need to tell the 'employees' how to do their jobs more to the way we think they should, as that's the point of our business but its hard and uncomfortable for me.
We've also had a few communication errors where we didn't give people the correct or timely information that they should have to know wtf is going on.
Any tips on people that learned to be managers themselves?
We've also had a few communication errors where we didn't give people the correct or timely information that they should have to know wtf is going on.
Any tips on people that learned to be managers themselves?
Funguy McAids on
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Some of the advice I have may not be applicable to your situation, as business does not equal hospital. But hopefully some of it may apply.
I always think about the better managers I've had to work underneath and those are the ones that I have respected. To build respect these following things have helped me:
Set an example It is unreasonable to expect somebody to do something that you are unwilling to do yourself. It is your job to set the tone of the business and to show your expectations through your behavior. Employees generally follow what the supervisor/manager is doing. This goes for little things like dress code and larger things like conduct. This is one of the hardest things I have found.
Be approachable and understanding When you are approachable and show understanding, you encourage them to tell you when something is wrong! Flexibility plays an important role in this too. You should always be willing to abandon all plans and re-work things and fly by the seat of your pants if something isn't working out. It keeps the environment running smoothly and ensures that all tasks are fair and that you are willing to re-work things if needed.
Be firm but fair When a task has not been completed to your standard, you are not helping anyone by biting your tongue about it. It is important to address issues between co-workers and yourself when they arise to prevent resentment. There is a nice way to ask somebody to re-do something and that is something that experience teaches you. You also have to remember that if a task was not done to your expectations it may have been because of miscommunication or poor explaining skills on your behalf.
Encourage a team environment When people feel as though they are part of something and they have pride in what they are doing they do a better job of it. It also encourages mutual respect, helping each other out when it's needed. You will also find that people will go the extra mile for you when it's needed because you have done all of the things above and they respect you. It also encourages loyalty.
Finally.. I'd just say that you should treat others as you yourself would like to be treated. That is the single most thing that has helped me in the transition between employee and supervisor.
It sounds like you don't want to be a leader but the situation has pretty much thrown you there. In all honesty people that don't want to be leaders but are pushed into it and commit themselves to it probably make the best leaders, you are in a good position.
Telling someone they suck is never easy, as other people have said it sounds like you need to learn when to approach the situation with tact and when to use a blunt object, obviously a one time mistake needs a quick word, repeated mistakes need a bollocking.
You may need to work on your communication if everyone in the office gets it wrong.
Write down what you need them to do.
in detail.
This is an email I got from a client. It is clear and to the point.
Good communication sounds like something you lack. Make up say checklists that people are required to fill out during/end of the job. This should give them some structure to follow. Get the entire group into it as well, they may miss some things that you might too.
Satans..... hints.....
You can be a manager or you can be buddies, you really can't be both. This doesn't mean you have to be a dick, but if you're paying them, they need to be working. Unless of course you run a charity or government office.
With fear, people get things done only to the point that they feel they have to to avoid punishment. A fear-based boss is the one who holds demotions, docked pay, and termination constantly over the heads of his employees and constantly puts the needs of the business and self over the needs of his employees.
With love, people get things done because they think it's the right thing to do to help you. While this seems good at first, it falls apart quickly the moment any sort of punishment becomes necessary. Resentment starts to grow, and you are forced from working with the positive energy to being no different as fear. A boss who uses the love concept hires friends and family, allows employees to work when/and where they want regardless of the needs of the business, and puts the needs of his staff over his own needs and those of the business.
With respect, you have the hardest road to get things done. It takes a lot of work, mostly from yourself. You have to be the first one there and the last one to leave (every single day). You will constantly need to be working at full force to set an example to your employees. You must be the hardest worker at the business. Only then can you dole out constructive criticism, nudge employees to get back on track, and figure out who really needs time off or deserves a promotion (and its ~never~ you unless everyone else already has). Respect works the best over time, will require you to bust your ass, and will be the best thing for both the employees and the business.
Read the Art of War, the books listed above, and The Prince. Being an administrator is the same be it General, King, or shift supervisor at McDonalds.
One last bit of advice: Keep drama to a minimum and never let it go unpunished. If two employees are bitching at each other/ignoring each other/ talking behind each other's backs bring them into the same room, tell them they have five minutes to get their acts together or else* (your company's first level punishment here, be it working a double or docked leave time). Letting this sort of thing sit/ignoring it will only cause it to infect all of your employees with anger.
Drama is like the T-Virus. You have to Nuke it from Orbit, it's the only way to be sure.
You don't want to do this unless you are totally and utterly confident in your ability to treat your friends like any other employee. And you someties have to be less than friendly with your employees.
I was once put in a position of supervising friends/buddies. I failed miserably.
Doesn't have to be a 6-hour meeting to get 10mins worth of info, but just a quick email or verbal, "Hey, how's the widgets going? I'd like to have phase 1 done by tomorrow, is that doable?" You're asking about a specific project, a specific timeline, and giving the opportunity for them to bring up any issue now.
Also, yeah, the friends at-work-at-thing usually only works for search engines, webcomics and ice cream.
Check out the recommended books at www.manager-tools.com.
I've been listening / reading for over a year and my career has benefited greatly! Amazing stuff.
This. If you're on top of things and check in regularly, people get in the habit of also being on top of things. You don't have to micromanage, but you do have to know what the fuck is going on.
This is nice but only if they already know the deadline beforehand and you are just slyly reminding them. It is not fun to be asked "hey is that widget going to be ready tomorrow" when they thought the deadline was next week because you never told them. Otherwise awesome
I was recently thrown into some engineering / construction management and I gotta say, I learned right quick to stop being a pushover and trying to be friends with my workers. I replaced my old way of making requests - "It would be great if you could provide me with up to date timesheets soon, I really need them" - with "I need the timesheets by 3pm or they don't get signed." I've had to throw "and nobody gets paid" onto the end of that. I've also had to throw "except me because I got my boss to sign my shit" onto the end of that addendum.
In short, make it clear what you want and when. Don't ask for things; Tell your employees what you want. You don't have to be a dick (like I was). I was working with old bikers (I'm 25) and hooligans and other ruffians, so being a jerk was mandatory.
I am totally stealing this. Thanks
Not knowing exactly what kind of business, this may not apply (most of my managerial experience comes from when I was a Chef), but I find that letting your employees know you are willing to do anything (ANYTHING) you ask them to do goes a long way. Getting your hands dirty with them occasionally let's them know you aren't just some douche in a suit.
At the same point, though, you can't be their friend first. You are their boss first. That doesn't mean be a hardass, but there is a careful balance between boss and friend that needs to be maintained, and I've found that slightly leaning more to the boss side is more effective. When you're too much of a friend, they see you as a pushover. When you're too much of a boss, they just think you're a jerk, but they get their work done.
(Opinion only... I don't claim to even know what I'm talking about)
A huge problem I found with hiring friends/co-workers is that some wanted to join in even though they aren't good at the job so we had a few road-bumps. I hired 2 people because they knew I was hiring other friends and they wanted the work. Then they turned out to not be the best of employees, not make the customers happy, and just not do what we wanted of them.
Now I'm doing some damage control though my wife is a bit unhappy with the state of thing, though generally the business is doing fine and everyone is happy.
See.
You are the manager.
You are going to have to learn how to say no.
You would say something like, "This is in no comment to your character, I like you as a person, I'm afraid your skill sets unfortunately don't match the company requirements."
Hiring the right people is one of the most critical things in the business and like most wives she was right on this matter.
Satans..... hints.....