So as I usually write about inner management, I wanted to move towards my other life as a manager in the "real world" Why because as you will see, as I write future blogs the similarities are amazing.
Grandma’s
Management 101
Life
Lessons from the Kitchen
Keys to successful management and a successful life
When I began working for
my grandmother back in the early 80”s my last thought was this is the beginning
of my management career. Most kids don’t think of their first job as a stepping
stone, It is usually the desire to have cash in hand that motivates 16 yr old’s
to work. but as I sit here and remember all she taught me all I can do is
smile.
Many decades later and
that first job is a part of who I am. My biggest lesson from her, respect.
Respect everyone, always respect the job your employees do, or attempt to do.
Nothing will get you further in life than respect. She would say “there is no
job that you are too good to do.” If you want to really move up in your career,
you need to get down. You must be
willing to “get dirty”, to get in the
trenches with your employees. Not just get in but really “be willing” to get
in. Your employees and well everyone you meet will be able to sense your
authenticity. People have what I like to call a “Bull shit meter”. Some have a
more accurate one than others but we all have one. So, if you are jumping in
the trenches and thinking to yourself, this job is below me, then you might as
well turn in your resignation. You will
have many difficulties not only attracting the right employees to fill those vacant
positions but you will also be scratching your head as to why they keep
quitting or slacking on the job.
Lesson two, never ask
someone to do something you are not willing to do yourself. This is similar to
respecting others but if you want your employees to respect you live by this.
And if you can’t, find another job. Besides being willing to jump in the trenches,
your employees need to know at some point you were “in” the trenches. They must
know that you truly understand their point of view. You have to see the job
they do from their side not just managements side.
Now this doesn’t mean you
have to be working alongside your employees on a daily basis, but they have to
know you will if need be. If you have not worked your way to the top by knowing
each job you now manage you will have a much harder time earning their respect.
And respect is key to having a fully
operable team.
Lesson three allow your
employees to fail. There is great humility learned in failure. Even if you see
the failure coming don’t jump in and take over. This can be a big lesson for
you as a manager. The same way our children learn best when they fall after
being told numerous times not to climb on the counters. The most important
thing is to be there for them when they do, to be there to catch them before
they hit. Anticipate the fall and guide the landing. Now depending on how hard they
are going to hit you may want to step in but allow them to learn in some way.
One of the easiest ways
to prevent failure is to constantly train. Be there on a regular basis to train
while the job is being performed as well as regular training session on
specific duties of the job.
Be aware that new ideas and ways of doing a
task are the future and be willing yourself to change. Listen to your employees
and guide their ideas. If you are there you will greatly reduce the failure
they experience.
I have learned many other
lessons over the past thirty years of management and working in the trenches
but Grandmas lessons are my foundation and I am eternally grateful to call her
my first “boss”.
Ann Shacar
InnerSpirit Management,
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