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With just about every one of my management jobs there are always those non management staff that have NEVER managed nor have they had any position with any significant responsibility but they always seem to have all of the answers.
What these people fail to realize is a manager has to view each situation from multiple perspectives and each response/solution is not always "black and white".
If you have 2 dozen people that you manage many times each "minor" request by an employee will affect all the other employees. Non management staff don't realize managers are paid to focus of things that make a difference in the organization. Management is very stressful and it's not for everyone.
I just thought I'd wright something to get some discussions going.......
Chime in......what do you think?
List and talk about anything as it relates to Management and Non Management relationships.
This is not about "god or bad" employees/managers. Refrain from that topic.
Thanks,
Ron
PS-I AM NOT ASKING FOR ADVICE. This IS NOT about ME. I want to hear your experiences and views.
I feel your pain. As a sole proprietor of a small business I'm often faced with an employee or a customer who seems to think that they know more than I do and that they have a solution to whatever problem I have at any particular time. I've been a manager many times over in many different spheres and the same situation repeats itself over and over again. The "solvers" have no clue at all of all the intricacies involved in running a business.
A "suggestion box" is the brunt these days of many a joke in the workplace but I think it has definite merit. I doubt that at this stage of the game I'll be back managing a workplace with several employees (one never knows, though!) but it's something I would implement in a heartbeat. Managers and/or owners aren't infallible and often can't see the woods from the trees but sometimes someone down the line sees a way to improve productivity but they don't know how to approach the issue.
I feel your pain. As a sole proprietor of a small business I'm often faced with an employee or a customer who seems to think that they know more than I do and that they have a solution to whatever problem I have at any particular time. I've been a manager many times over in many different spheres and the same situation repeats itself over and over again. The "solvers" have no clue at all of all the intricacies involved in running a business.
A "suggestion box" is the brunt these days of many a joke in the workplace but I think it has definite merit. I doubt that at this stage of the game I'll be back managing a workplace with several employees (one never knows, though!) but it's something I would implement in a heartbeat. Managers and/or owners aren't infallible and often can't see the woods from the trees but sometimes someone down the line sees a way to improve productivity but they don't know how to approach the issue.
Just something you might want to think about.
Actually that's not what I was talking about and this is not about me. I am not seeking advice. I just wanted to hear others experiences. Sort of like a focus group.
My apologies for misinterpreting your post and making a contribution which I mistakenly thought was relevant to the question you posed, thus wasting your time. Mea culpa.
List and talk about anything as it relates to Management and Non Management relationships.
This is not about "god or bad" employees/managers. Refrain from that topic.
Pardon any offense, but pls make up your mind. ie to a large extent, yes, Management and Non Management relationships are about "good or bad" employees/managers. I've had more bad than good managers, sometimes outright horrific, esp in terms of dealing with people. It's a glaring example of how we as a society are getting worse and worse with our people skills IMO. Let's face it: most managers manage people because it came with the job; they don't want to and many flat-out hate it. And to be honest, I can't say I blame them as I wasn't wild about it either - but I didn't use that as an excuse to suck at it. And I at least dealt with people as people and not an inconvenience. ie I was up front, treated them with respect, and gave them the benefit of the doubt. And I listened...because, as STT said, often they had good, valid opinions. Regarding people who "think they have all the answers," well yeah, there are those types too and you have to listen to them as well. Regardless I would listen to each idea presented, consider and respond as applicable.
To all: if you have or find a job with a great boss/manager(s), I advise you to think twice before leaving that position if at all possible. They're as valuable as any diamond and far more rare.
Hmmmmm...I think that managers should solicit opinions from the people they manage while actively maintaining the caveat that they will take it under consideration only. People want to be heard and will be more productive and happy if they feel like what they think matters. There is nothing as destructive to morale than to feel like you don't matter.
Pardon any offense, but pls make up your mind. ie to a large extent, yes, Management and Non Management relationships are about "good or bad" employees/managers. I've had more bad than good managers, sometimes outright horrific, esp in terms of dealing with people. It's a glaring example of how we as a society are getting worse and worse with our people skills IMO. Let's face it: most managers manage people because it came with the job; they don't want to and many flat-out hate it. And to be honest, I can't say I blame them as I wasn't wild about it either - but I didn't use that as an excuse to suck at it. And I at least dealt with people as people and not an inconvenience. ie I was up front, treated them with respect, and gave them the benefit of the doubt. And I listened...because, as STT said, often they had good, valid opinions. Regarding people who "think they have all the answers," well yeah, there are those types too and you have to listen to them as well. Regardless I would listen to each idea presented, consider and respond as applicable.
To all: if you have or find a job with a great boss/manager(s), I advise you to think twice before leaving that position if at all possible. They're as valuable as any diamond and far more rare.
Hmmmmm...I think that managers should solicit opinions from the people they manage while actively maintaining the caveat that they will take it under consideration only. People want to be heard and will be more productive and happy if they feel like what they think matters. There is nothing as destructive to morale than to feel like you don't matter.
Yes. And I've learned the best way to get work out of people is positive reinforcement and listening to them like they are people, not pests who are bothering you and taking up too much of your precious time.
Why are you being so apparently churlish and combative when people are paying you due deference and respect by answering your post? If your intercourse with posters on this thread is indicative of that with the non-managerial employees you oversee then I can see that you may well have a problem dealing with the latter.
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