The Business Management Tightrope

Being the new boss is tough

Published on September 13, 2004 By godsjewl In Life Journals

SO, I got the job I really wanted, or so I thought. I admit I did not realize quite how difficult it is to come into an established business and take over as manager. It is not the paperwork, or the actual business that are tough, the real challenge is employee relations. So far on several occasions I have been told "no" or "no, that is not my job" when I politely ask employees to perform a task. The complete lack of respect and disobediance are astounding to me - I now know what my boss ment when he said "managing people will be the hardest job you will ever have".

Does anyone have any useful advice? Other then the typical "put your foot down" approach.

-ramona

Comments

xtine

on Sep 13, 2004

Document everything. Even in a non-managerial position one should document everything.

KarmaGirl

on Sep 13, 2004

First, the "put your foot down" approach will get you hated faster than anything. An employee that hates you will be very non-productive.

Managing people is difficult. When doing so, you have to constantly be asking "would I like somebody to treat me that way"? Are you sure that the person who said "it's not my job" wasn't right? Are you sure that you have a firm enough grasp on what is going on to know that you are right?

Most employees like a friendly but focused manager. They want to be treated with respect and have their voice heard. If you don't treat people with respect, or if you come off as having a superiority complex, they won't help you out. You say that they don't have respect for you, but have you earned their respect, or are you just thinking that they should respect you because you are a "manager"?

Managers are only as good as the people they work for. Yes, I meant it that way. A manager actually works for the people they manage by making sure that the job gets done. Without the people actually getting the work done, the manager is nothing.

godsjewl

on Sep 13, 2004

i realize that - what you are saying is helpful, however, i have tried to earn their respect, I have been polite, and I do know the business - i worked in a different capacity for many years, actually a higher up capacity then I went back to college and got my degree and went to work for a private owner (it is a frachise i use to develop & sell now i manage for a frachisee) nonetheless, i do know the business, however the job had been promised to someone else until I came along, this I did not initially know, anyway, I am sort of the person who "stole" the job from someone who had already been there. So it complicates matters.

Capi Crimini

on Sep 13, 2004

Ahhh... Godsjewl I will enlighten you...

You take your foot and you don't put it down. You shove it up thier ass and out thier mouth... at that point they can't complain or even talk. Due to the fact you won't be able to walk easily there is another approach you might prefer....

This book might help you out...

Getting to YES : Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In
Roger Fisher and William Ury of the Harvard Negotiation Project....

you should be able to find it at a local library... very good info on solving your problem. It deals with the passive agressive approach you talk about and a better way to go about problems like that.

I'll tell you if I remember anything else

KarmaGirl

on Sep 13, 2004

You take your foot and you don't put it down. You shove it up thier ass and out thier mouth... at that point they can't complain or even talk. Due to the fact you won't be able to walk easily there is another approach you might prefer....

Sure. Yeah, that is how to get quality work out of people. Is that how *you* like to be treated? I have worked in management and human resources for over 9 years and have *never* treated anyone like that.

You don't gain respect in a few days or a few weeks, you have to give it time. You have to get to know the employees and learn what makes them tick. Above all, you have to respect them. If you don't, and you treat them like dirt, they won't do their jobs well, and eventually they will quit (or cause a mutiny against you). Have you tried talking with the employees and let them know that you had no prior knowledge that somebody else was to get the job? Have you tried having a meeting and having the group set objectives?

You say you want "useful" advice, but when you say "i realize that - what you are saying is helpful, however" it sounds like you really don't want advice.

Being a good manager is not easy. And, the more you assert that you are the "manager" the more likely the people are going to respond poorly.

Capi Crimini

on Sep 14, 2004

"You take your foot and you don't put it down. You shove it up thier ass and out thier mouth... at that point they can't complain or even talk. Due to the fact you won't be able to walk easily there is another approach you might prefer...."~ Karma Girl

Thats just a joke. The book is totally different. Like all things it takes time, but the books might act like a laxative and speed things up.

Is that how *you* like to be treated? ~ Karma Girl

hey it might be a fetish of mine. *blush*

years and have *never* treated anyone like that. ~Karma Girl

That could be your problem.

the above to Karma is in jest. The thing was a joke. the book is different,.

xtine

on Sep 15, 2004

There's a balance to be found (as with EVERYTHING in life) between being a nice boss and being a good boss. My boss, for example, is one of those new-age hippy type bosses who is constantly asking his employees for opinions, feelings, and thoughts on his decisions. I'm at the point now where I don't feel like he knows what he's doing, or even cares for that matter. Sometimes, employees just want a decision. I don't care how much work it involves me, just give me a direction to move in!

godsjewl

on Sep 15, 2004

maybe this might be insightful - capi is a teenager with no mgmt experience --- sorry capi but you just dont know what you are talking about

still buds though

Capi Crimini

on Sep 15, 2004

"maybe this might be insightful - capi is a teenager with no mgmt experience --- sorry capi but you just dont know what you are talking about...."

. mgmt isn't my forte` our correct. Ramona, BUT, I do know people. I know how to talk to them, how to change them, manipulate, read them, and get them to do what I want.

With text on the internet it's hard for you to see or be shown. I told you a book to look into, meaning if I have experience or not it doesn't matter, they still know what they are talking about and don't need me to understand.

I don't know manegment, I just know people.

godsjewl

on Sep 15, 2004

so do i and i am starting to remember what a-holes they are

not you ofcourse...

Jay Walker

on Sep 15, 2004

Getting to YES : Negotiating Agreement Without Giving InRoger Fisher and William Ury of the Harvard Negotiation Project....

this is a good book, as is the old classic "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie. I'd recommend the Carnegie book first and the Fisher/Fry book after.

Karma has some very good advice, in my view. Firstly, patience and persistence is needed. Time - along with a consistent approach.

Secondly, telling your people that you're sorry someone else was in mind is good, but that you hope they can understand (and here it's good to find one or two sympathetic allies in the room) that you need this job, and hope they aren't expecting you to quit. Make sure you SMILE at that point!

Thirdly, begin asking everyone there (in group meetings, and individually), what they think works well there, what needs to be improved. What do they think can be done to make this place work better. Remember, most people love having their opinions asked for, and many people already have some idea about how to improve it too. Soliciting their opinions shows that you respect them. And don't give up if it doesn't work right away - keep after it with patience, persistence, and humor helps too.

Good luck.

JW

godsjewl

on Sep 16, 2004

Thanks - everyone for all of the great input & advice!

KarmaGirl

on Sep 16, 2004

so do i and i am starting to remember what a-holes they are

hehe! Ah, yes, it's all politics, my dear, all politics....

Capi Crimini

on Sep 17, 2004

Reply By: KarmaGirl Posted: Thursday, September 16, 2004

so do i and i am starting to remember what a-holes they are

hehe! Ah, yes, it's all politics, my dear, all politics....

haha.... thats funny. Not becaue you said it because of GJ's Degree and the fact she's so close to... you know... it's losing its humor... as we speak... I'm just going to shut up now. END

godsjewl

on Oct 03, 2004

oh, b/c i have a degree in poli sci....sorry i'm slow lately

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