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Background:
I work for a small, privately-owned plastics company (distributor, fabricator, engineering, manufacturer)
We have 4 branches in the country, and do about $20mil per year total. Maybe 50-60 employees throughout all branches. I am the youngest employee in the entire company. The youngest manager they've ever hired. I have been there almost 5 years (Inside Sales/Account Manager/Customer Service)
I was told in the last week that they are making me Customer Service Manager starting next week and, within 3-6 months, they want me to take over my branch completely and be branch manager (will have 8 employees working for me, that I have been working beside for the past 5 years, and all but 1 of them has been there longer than me)
I'm only 28, this is a huge jump for me.
Does anyone here have management experience? What advice can you give? The only people that know are the Owner/CEO, the President, my current branch manager (they are creating a new position for her) and myself. When they make the announcement Monday it is going to shock a lot of people.
Just looking for general tips, advice. What are some things you have liked/disliked about managers?
I could go on for hours about managers, but I will limit it to a few things I learned from a particularly terrible one:
1. People live up to your expectations. If you have low expectations, they will be mediocre. If you have high expectations, they will aim high. Having said that, your expectations are just that -- your expectations. For example, just because you're a workaholic does not mean that you can expect your employees to sacrifice their lives to the company too.
2. It doesn't matter who made the mistake, just fix the problem and don't let it happen again. It does no good to go on a witch hunt every time something happens. Handle it quietly and quickly.
3. Behave in such a way that your employees trust you. They need to know that you truly want them (and therefore, the company) to succeed. If you're only in it for yourself, everyone will know it. As the great Ben Folds said, "If you can't trust, you can't be trusted." I believe that most people, if left to their own devices, will try to do their best.
4. Praise good things, minimize bad things, and give credit where credit is due--> never take credit for work you didn't do.
5. Micromanaging is devastating to morale. Not only that, you cannot do everything yourself. Learn to delegate, have clear expectations, and learn to be flexible since your way may not always the best way.
6. Change for the sake of change is stupid and pointless.
I could go on for hours about managers, but I will limit it to a few things I learned from a particularly terrible one:
1. People live up to your expectations. If you have low expectations, they will be mediocre. If you have high expectations, they will aim high. Having said that, your expectations are just that -- your expectations. For example, just because you're a workaholic does not mean that you can expect your employees to sacrifice their lives to the company too.
2. It doesn't matter who made the mistake, just fix the problem and don't let it happen again. It does no good to go on a witch hunt every time something happens. Handle it quietly and quickly.
3. Behave in such a way that your employees trust you. They need to know that you truly want them (and therefore, the company) to succeed. If you're only in it for yourself, everyone will know it. As the great Ben Folds said, "If you can't trust, you can't be trusted." I believe that most people, if left to their own devices, will try to do their best.
4. Praise good things, minimize bad things, and give credit where credit is due--> never take credit for work you didn't do.
5. Micromanaging is devastating to morale. Not only that, you cannot do everything yourself. Learn to delegate, have clear expectations, and learn to be flexible since your way may not always the best way.
6. Change for the sake of change is stupid and pointless.
I think these are some great points. I will add, ask your employees about ways that you can help them be more successful. Really listen to those ideas. Also, threatening to fire people does not make them work harder. Actually it does just the opposite.
Background:
I work for a small, privately-owned plastics company (distributor, fabricator, engineering, manufacturer)
We have 4 branches in the country, and do about $20mil per year total. Maybe 50-60 employees throughout all branches. I am the youngest employee in the entire company. The youngest manager they've ever hired. I have been there almost 5 years (Inside Sales/Account Manager/Customer Service)
I was told in the last week that they are making me Customer Service Manager starting next week and, within 3-6 months, they want me to take over my branch completely and be branch manager (will have 8 employees working for me, that I have been working beside for the past 5 years, and all but 1 of them has been there longer than me)
I'm only 28, this is a huge jump for me.
Does anyone here have management experience? What advice can you give? The only people that know are the Owner/CEO, the President, my current branch manager (they are creating a new position for her) and myself. When they make the announcement Monday it is going to shock a lot of people.
Just looking for general tips, advice. What are some things you have liked/disliked about managers?
Are they providing you management training and if not buy some books on it. There are some things you have to know or learn to be an effective manager. There are approaches to handling difficult employees and management problems that aren't always instinctive in most people.
The other thing to keep in mind is that your age shouldn't matter - 28 isn't especially young and not too young to be a manager even if the others are quite a bit older. It's your competence that will matter. There may be some who resent you or who will try to gain some kind of advantage over you because of your age but those are the same ones who would try to gain advantage some other way because that's how they are.
Be careful of people who try to befriend you so they can get special favors. Your relationship with co-workers changes when you're given a position over them. It probably won't be the work that is a problem for you but the people. At least since you've worked beside the other employees for some time, you have an idea about them but just keep in mind the relationship changes now and you're part of management and that means after hours also.
The biggest mistakes managers make can be trying to be everyone's buddy, or thinking that being "the boss" makes them more important, gives them special powers. Not understanding the toadies who will try to manipulate them. And not having the right personality or instincts in the first place.
Often others really don't want the promotion and extra responsibilities - but that doesn't always stop them from trying to challenge the one who gets them. Stay competent, don't bend the rules for anyone. Don't try to play both sides -- trying to be management some times and one of the guys other times. Make sure you know very well what is expected of you from above, and know the company policies very well.
Don't abandon those you manage. My husband lost his job without warning and without remediation which should have been offered by his manager. But that manager is somewhat aloof about her job and struggles just to keep a schedule in place. She doesn't like at least one person she manages and therefore doesn't deal with him at all even when he is doing wrong. But guess which one's still have a job here?
1. Remember that being a manager doesn't make you smarter or better than other people. Managers have different skills and roles than the people who work for them, but different is not the same thing as smarterand better.
2. Never ask your subordinates to do something you wouldn't be willing to do yourself.
3. Lead by example. (If you want employees to follow safety procedures, then don't ignore them yourself, for example. If you want your employees to be punctual, then don't stroll in late. If you want them to stay late, stay late with them.)
Do not go in trying to "flex your muscles" so to speak, meaning don't go in heavy fisted throwing your weight around trying to run over people because you are in a position of authority. (that is immaturity in my book and I have seen a lot of it)
Changes have to be made carefully and slowly unless it is something passed down from the main office and then have the paperwork to back that up so that they will understand it is not a change you made. After my first year as a manager, they made drastic changes, requiring us manager to do a lot more paperwork and some of my people thought I made it up so I could sit at a desk all day.
Do not try to micro manage every little thing... it will drive you and the other nuts!
I always showed my people that I would get in there and get my hands dirty with them. I never asked them to do anything that they knew I wouldn't do myself. (That got me a lot of respect)
Most of all, treat everyone with respect and diginity.. You are ALL on the same team!
I was a sales manager and the best words of advice were to treat your employees like a baseball team. Not everyone can be the pitcher, catcher or play first base. But working together gets the whole office towards the goal.
Had one sale rep that always was at 120% of quota, but only worked from 10:00 in the morning to 3:00 in the afternoon. My boss was always trying to get me to make her work more hours in the hopes of her hitting 150% of quota. I told him that if I made her work more hours she would be at 0% of quota because she would quit and we would lose our best sales rep. So always be willing to be flexible to get the most out of your employees.
1. My old boss, who I dreadfully miss working for, said something that stuck with me in regards to punitive measures. He said, "If anything comes as a surprise to you, I haven't done my job".
Congrats!
Only 3 things I'd say.
1. you must be doing something right, ie., good people skills, and instinct.
2. lead by example, always!
3. all are there for the same reason, ie., a means to an end - paycheck, and although pays may be different, all jobs are important, so they must all tow the line equally and be rewarded verbally from time to time. That could make or break someone's day. You never know what else is going on in someone else's life.
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