What is your best managing people advice?

[|Zach|]

Everyone who has become a supervisor or manager of people at any organization usually learns a lot of lessons pretty quickly.

What is wisdom you deem fit to pass along?

[ChiliConCarnage]

Originally Posted by BWillie

Be genuinely interested in their lives

Thank them often

Originally Posted by BWillie

When I was a retail supervisor I ****ed way to many of my cashiers so dont do that either

Well, that's showing an interest in their lives.

[kozzman555]

1. Everyone has had good and bad bosses before. Do the things that you liked when your good bosses did and don't do the thing that you hated that your bad bosses did. Example, I hated when I had a boss that would see something that looked like it was messed up and just assume I was wrong and jacked up. He never would take the time to just ask "What's going on here?" and let me either explain or just own my mistake. I appreciate that my current boss will see something and just ask me what the deal is and let me talk. Always hated getting reamed out for literally no reason.

2. You can be friendly with your subordinates, but you can't be friends with them. See #3

3. You'll eventually have to do something they don't like. Don't ever give them anything they can use against you, because they will lash out and shaft you if they can. Don't be exchanging jokes or memes or anything.

4.Treat them like you would treat your children, assuming you're a good parent. Look out for their interests, help them grow and learn and flourish. Love them, as ghey as that might sound.

5. Understand they have a life outside work just like you do and that might sometimes impact them at work. Be as understanding as you can, to a point. Eventually work is work, but if you can help them through a tough time, they will love you for it.

6. People quit bosses, not jobs. Don't be a dick. Read "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie.

7. People show up to work for money. Duh. Try and get them as much as you can if they are a good employee. Turnover is expensive not only in cost, but knowledge and efficiency lost.

8. When people **** up, perform counseling sessions. Show them what was done wrong, what's the right way, and document everything. Continue documenting everything, that way when you get to the point where you want to get rid of them, you can. You already have all the evidence you need to fire them for cause. HR will appreciate it. We called it "building a packet" in my unit in the Army.

9. Set and enforce the standards. Employees HATE when they see someone ****ing off and nothing happens to that person. It kills morale. They ask "why should I bother doing things the right way when BillyJoeJimBob doesn't and nothing happens?". Things will turn to shiat ASAP if you just let the standards slide. Hold people accountable, just frame it positively when people mess up. Let them know, let them learn, and let them do it right next time.

[Chief Roundup]

Hear them but do not listen to them.
Let them complain while you act as if you care when you know there is nothing you can do to change their complaint.

[lewdog]

Respect above all else, even when your employees are wrong. Professionalism at all times, even when you're angry.

As the leader you must be able and willing to do any job. You must also know every job. If they see you doing the lowest job on the totem pole because it was needed, they know you respect the worth of their job. If an employee feels worth, they will do their job to the best of their ability.

Always seek the input of your team members. When a decision is made, explain why that decision was made. This allows buy-in to the decision made. I honestly can't say I've ever made a decision where there wasn't at least someone on the team that agreed with me. They won't all agree but as long as someone below you owns it, it won't create hostility for you.

Admit when you're wrong and pivot to a better idea, many times an idea from someone else. Thank them for their thinking and praise their idea in front of others. You must always work towards buy-in from your team. This is how you achieve excellence, with open communication and honesty.

Sniff out toxic gossip and meet with that person(s) quickly. Have an open and honest conversation and allow them to vent. Correct misinformation and seek to address their needs. Allowing employees to create a toxic work environment because you don't want someone to ask you the tough questions breeds complacency and turnover. You cannot hire and retain good staff if you work culture is toxic. You many times will only know if your work place is toxic by "leadership by walking around." Humans always want to talk and if you're out with your employees, you'll hear it from somewhere.

Lastly, be ethical. If you don't have integrity, you don't have anything.

[Rainbarrel]

The one that poops in the diaper is preferable to the one that poops on the rug. No more politics need to be discussed on the job

[trndobrd]

Hold everyone accountable. Including yourself.

Praise publicly, reprimand privately.

Don’t hold grudges…but don’t forget either.

Don’t wait for a subordinate to completely fail before you step in. You are not doing the subordinate or organization any favors.

Let your team see you go to bat for them.

If you are higher up the food chain, make sure your ‘worker bees’ know that their team leaders were looking out for them.

When things go south, don’t immediately assume ill will or incompetence. Misunderstanding or unclear task and purpose are much more common causes of failure.

Make a point to be seen. Ask person doing the most mundane task how things can be improved. It might not be in your control to make the changes, but at least you will understand the challenges they face, and they will know you care.

To the extent possible and appropriate, explain the ‘why’.

[big nasty kcnut]

That you tell them there no favoritism here. Work hard and I'll will reward you. Don't work hard there the door. I will not look over your shoulders or get mad if you taking a small rest. But I expect you to be on the ready answer calls and do your assignments you need something fixed write it out and I'll get someone to fix it. I'll will help a little but I expect you to do your job without needing to hold your hand.

[Iowanian]

1. Never ask the people under you to do something you wont. Let them see you tske out the trash or clean a toilet or whatever once in a while.

2. Hire people smarter than you, give them tools to be successful, help the, do thay and theyll make you look good

3. Give credit, take the blame. Give the credit to your tesm ehen things go well, tske the bullet for them when needed…

4. Tell them why when you can, dont accept excuses.

[Dayze]

Avoid people

[Megatron96]

Lot of good advice here already so I'll just keep it short.


Don't lie to your people. They'll figure it out, sometimes as you're lying to them. And they'll never forget it.


Don't take from your people. That is pretty vague, but one example is don't take credit from them; give them the credit whenever possible. That breeds loyalty like you wouldn't believe.


Someone earlier mentioned taking the blame for your people, and I 100% concur. Shit rolls downhill, and part of your job as their manager is to shield them from the higher ups when necessary. That also will go a long way towards building trust/loyalty.


Remember everything is a test and everything is a teaching moment. How you handle adversity, and it will happen, can make/break you as a manager. I used to call those types of situations 'challenges to be met.'


That's it for me. Carry on.

[ChiefsFanatic]

I always recommend The One Minute Manager to all new managers.

Praise in public, and discipline in private.

I also tell new managers that they are only as good as their people, so make their people as good as possible. Coach everyone up, and save nothing.

So many managers are afraid of more talented or qualified people taking their jobs, but if you keep having people under you promoted, that's a good thing.

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by ChiefsFanatic

Praise in public, and discipline in private.

That's a great one. Never dress anyone down in public, if possible.

[Katipan]

In my defense, I really didn't care and he was fired.

My favorite. ❤️

[HonestChieffan]

Set high expectations and reward those who achieve goals.

Never reward unproductive behavior

Managers are rewarded for their peoples performance. Help them be the best. Thoose who are not able to perform need a different opportunity elsewhere.

[Mosbonian]

You will notice many here provide the same advice....that tells you something...

Know that as a Manager you need to grow too...if Managers stagnate it's hard to encourage your team to grow too...(this does not apply if you 3 months from retirement)