Management

[*Original date – 14 May 2020]

• I want to be a manager because I know I can do any job, but I can’t do every job. I know what needs to be done, and how to do it, so I not only can train/teach others how to do each job required, I’ll know whether or not they’re meeting the standards, and if the standards set are reasonable for the. I won’t be a boss who tells someone to do in 1 day what should be done in a week. If such a time calls for this to happen, I will work as hard as I can to help.

• I’ve wanted to be a manager before I even knew what management was. Because of this, I’ve tried to pay as close attention to my bosses management styles to learn all I can. I made sure not only to focus on what worked, but also what negatively affected employees and work flow.

• One of the biggest faults a new manager commonly has is forgetting what it felt like to be an employee. The stress of learning a new job and responsibilities can be exhausting, but learning a new job should not make you forget where you came from.

• The two most important things in management is

1. Mutual respect

2. Discipline – not as in punishment, but expectations to meet standards

• I only expect my employees to work as hard as I am willing to

• My employees aren’t my underlings, lessers, or tools. They are my coworkers, and we all have a job to do. It just happens that my job is to ensure they do their job to the best of their ability, and not by fear, but by respect, encouragement, and setting them up to be successful.

• It is important to be firm and consistent, but a certain flexibility is needed. Every person is different, and every person responds differently to things. My job is to figure out the best management methods for each individual employee.

• It’s less about the qualifications and skills of a single employee, and more about the attitude. An average employee who listens and tries is much more valuable than a genius with an attitude problem.

• Balance of the team is important, not only in a sense of ability, but also personality. Employers will work much harder for coworkers that they like.

• A manager must have vision, because a manager must lead. If I don’t know where I’m going, my employees will be able to tell. No one wants to follow a blind leader wandering aimlessly

• I will not neglect my employees mental health. Degradation of mental health can turn the best employee into an unrecognizable shell, incapable of doing any task to the best of their abilities. Whatever loss of productivity from accommodating mental health will be paid back a hundred fold, both because they’re physically and mentally more fit for their work, but also because they know that they are valued. Employees are not expendable.

• Although employees are not expendable, sometimes difficult decisions must be made. I’ll make those decisions if necessary, but I’ll work as hard as I can to find a better alternative. I’m more willing to take a paycut than let go of a valued employee.