Starting a new chapter in life

[arista]

So everyone who has ever had to change jobs will relate. I just changed jobs today for a supervisor position. Yes, I am now the dreaded boss. I am seeking advice from anyone who has ever had this change of jobs. I know that I have worked for some crappy supervisors and do not want to be on of those supervisor.

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

I'm sure you'll make a great boss, Arista, good luck in your new position and congratulations.

I think it's the experience of having 'crappy supervisors' that makes good ones.

Long days and pleasant nights

[Drawn to Ka-tet]

I always liked taking care of people as their supervisor- but my boss didn't take care of- in fact I have the tire tracks across my back to prove it.
So after 6 years, I became an 'individual contributor'.

It was harder coming back to be one of THEM, than it was stepping up to be their supervisor.
I think the hardest part of being the supervisor was that I couldn't really be friends with the people anymore. I wish you good luck!!:love:

[LOTUS]

Hey!I totally relate to this thread now!I am also in between jobs at the moment and starting a new chapter in life - in a few weeks I will have a team, I'll have to train,supervise and take care of.
I am not very sure,how I should handle things.I also had some really bad supervisors,some relatively good and /thankfully!/ a great one.I am thinking constantly these days about the ways they have treated their staff,solved problems and issues.I think even the "bad" examples I've seen can be very useful and could help build a clear image in your head about what a really good manager should be like.
I think you will do good - your desire to be a good supervisor and the fact that you are seeking for an advise is a great start.Many people that get promoted are just in the search for a higher position and better prosperity in life and don't even bother if they will actually be helpful for the people they are in charge of.
I wish you lots of luck,keep us updated and...congrats!:laugh:

[LadyPain]

I'm one of the supervisors at work. Technically, I'm a cashier supervisor most of the time, but I also get to be the front store supervisor and reign over everyone (except the pharmacy, which is a world unto itself). I work with people who have been there 20-30 years in some cases so when I had only been there eight months and was made a supervisor, there were some snide remarks behind my back. They stopped though when they saw I did NOT let it go to my head, and that I took their safety and comfort seriously. Even the manager/assistant manager are afraid of some of the strange ones who come in to steal and stalk, but I will walk right up to them, talk to them and escort them out of the store. I have more balls than a baseball team, and that has made it work. Management has seen how I can get the long-timers to listen to me and how I choose to lead by example.

I'm supposed to be training for management, but the job stress has been getting to me pretty bad lately, and I am not sure if I want to kill myself with work, ya know, but it's nice to know I am thought of that way.

Just be fair, listen to people and let them express their opinions. That helps.

[Todash]

Congrats! I'm sure John is right and that your crappy supervisors have taught you much.

But because I love to give advice, here is some, none of which will probably be news to you: Be very clear about what deliverables you expect, and judge on those deliverables, not on personalities. Be fair and reasonable about your expectations, though; sometimes stuff happens. Don't cultivate "favorites." Don't micromanage. Don't gossip. Criticize in private; praise in public.

[Perse Jr.]

As an HR professional, I can tell you it's so important for you to know your responsiblities and what is expected of you. Make sure you get clear details from your boss about what s/he wants in a supervisor. Also, it might be a good idea to get any available information from your boss or HR about your employees (job descriptions, outstanding issues, etc., if you don't already know them).

Be yourself, but don't be a friend. Friends get away with more, and in the work place, especially with the supervisor/employee relationship, it can be hard to put your foot down or be the "boss" if the line gets crossed at any time.

Also remember you're not there to make friends, you're there first and foremost for yourself, your family, and your financial and professional success.

OH! And also.....what John said...:smile2:

[Cowboy]

You will do fine Arista. Being supervisor has its privelages.

[Haunted]

Speaking as a former supervisor and head bean counter; I see so much good advice has been given here! Forget the bad supervisors and try to emulate the good ones.

And CONGRATULATIONS!! You will be just great!!:biggrin2:

[Theregulator]

I always liked taking care of people as their supervisor- but my boss didn't take care of- in fact I have the tire tracks across my back to prove it.
So after 6 years, I became an 'individual contributor'.

It was harder coming back to be one of THEM, than it was stepping up to be their supervisor.
I think the hardest part of being the supervisor was that I couldn't really be friends with the people anymore. I wish you good luck!!:love:

Unfortuneatly I also found that to do the job properly you cannot have close friendships inside work. As long as you have friends outside work you'll be fine. Thats not to say you cannot have a good working relationship with colleagues but anything more is a minefield of potential problems.

[arista]

Thanks all to the advice on being a supervisor. I will certainly take it to heart.

[Bryan James]

Don't have noodie relations with the CEO's wife, and if you do, don't get caught.

Know that you don't know what you don't know, so delegate it, instead.

Don't fall in love with your amazingly impressive handwritten signature. It's much easier to fall back on "I don't recall" if your amazingly impressive handwritten signature isn't on the bottom of a questionable document.
(Stick to crappy pens, Bic ballpoint mediums...much harder to get carried away with those than a nice Cross set)

Save your team downstream as best you can, because IT DOES roll uphill, too.

And most of all, Good Luck. The Golden Rule seems to help in everything.

BJS

[bookworm101]

I learned this from one of the best CEO's I've ever worked for. When the situations rises and you have to reprimand someone start off with something positive about that person's job performance. Explain then what is wrong and how it's hurting the company. End meeting with something else positive about the persons job performance. Believe me they leave knowing they need to improve, but don't feel belittle or feeling bad about themselves, and are more apt to change. It worked great for me. You just have to be prepared and have your facts straight.

[catnoel]

Listen, do not be condesending, put yourself in other people's shoes, remember rules are made to be broken, be human, kind, understanding, try to make work fun

[phidgt]

OK, here's some advice that I learned while I was "the dreaded boss":
Make sure you let people know when they have done a job well.

It's much too easy to get focused on the negatives. People love to get a pat on the back once in a while.

[marew1]

Congrats! I was an evening school supervisor. I looked out for my staff and gave help when asked. I was not overbearing, letting evening school teachers do their job. I was also a supervisor in the Air Force. I would listen to my staff, give advice and made sure they stayed on task. All the best to you.

[Autumnlyn]

The only thing I can suggest is DO NOT let them think you are thier friend! In this I mean, be friendly, but they should (and you should) remember YOU ARE THE BOSS. Too many uncomfortable situations occur when friendship muddies the waters.

I have been 'friendly' with many of my bosses and had great working relationships with them, even a fun after work drink or two. But, I never forgot that I am having a drink with my BOSS. Could you imagine the situation I would have put her/him in if I had gotten blitzed and called in sick the next day or said something that could come back to haunt me at work? Expected special treatment at work as his/her 'friend'? There is a fine line there.

On a bright note... after reading alot of your posts, I think you have the blend of humor and strength to do great as a boss!!

[Agincourt Concierge]

Congrats on the new position......I wish you much success.....you will be great....

[tillyn]

I don't have any advise, maybe just have an open mind. Remember you were there once.

[arista]

Captains' stardate log day two on the supervisor-IT seems to be going okay so far, so good. I appreciate so much all the members who took time to give advice. Plus, my sense of humor seems to be brightening up the position.
Thanks-Arista.

[PatInTheHat]

Just remember this sage piece of ancient wisdom:
The occasional box of tasty Ooo La La french pastries, or heapin' plate of moist and oh so delicious brownies, wins major big points, and can overcome most bumps & humps on the road to Big Bossville/town/burg/Village/Corner/:wink2::y:...cookies are for short sighted slackers, commonly seen wearing white belts and distasteful footwear:n::laugh:!