Managers and Underlings

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Sat Oct 18, 2003 12:12 am

I'm starting this thread for anyone who's either. I have both and I'd like to share some stories and advice.

Flux · Post by **Flux** » Sun Oct 19, 2003 12:45 am

Personally, I do my best to avoid both roles.

alice · Post by **alice** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 5:53 am

i don't mind working for others, but i love being my own boss.

as for underlings, well, you guys are the best.

Chai Guy · Post by **Chai Guy** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 1:34 pm

You can't "manage" people, and if you're a manager (or going to be one) that's the first thing you have to learn. It's like trying to herd cats.

Instead, manage "systems", and empower your people to run those "systems", and make them better.

Make your work place an environment that people enjoy coming to. There is a very corny book out (and video) called "Whale Done" and "FISH" by Ken Blanchard. It's a little syrupy but once you get past it, there is actually good information below the 5th grade reading level its written at. I suggest getting the video first.

And if you're an underling- Stick it to the Man every chance you have!

Kinetic II · Post by **Kinetic II** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 1:39 pm

Oh man, not the corporate book of the year thing again. Let's see, with Sprint in 2002 it was Gung Ho!, this year it's the FISH book. It sounds great, the PTB want everyone to read it and adopt it and then 2 weeks later it's out the door and back to business as usual. Sorry to rain on your parade Chai Guy but this is one of my personal pet peeves about corporate Amerika. I've had 3 years now of these books and mindset shifters and they never work for us.

SED · Post by **SED** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 1:55 pm

My problem (not an "issue"--I won't soft peddle it) is that I'm an inexperienced supervisor with experienced assistant. I teach in a special education classroom. The assistant is good at what he does, but he also makes huge and loud point of saying so. He has a hot temper and has blown up at me several times. I can't fire him, and my supervisor is weak and disrespected by all.

I need this job. I have a family to provide for. But it's killing me bit by bit. I could do my work alot better, but I'm so tired now from being up all night, and the atmosphere is poisonous. I keep finding myself thinking the thughts of a total asshole. I'm not an asshole! I just neeed help and I'm so tired I can't think straight.

alice · Post by **alice** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 2:27 pm

i'll give you a job.

herself · Post by **herself** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 4:10 pm

SED: I think you should have an honest talk w your underling to acknowledge that you know s/he knows a lot more on that particular topic than you do, but you think it is distracting from the classroom for him to honk on about how great he is. It sounds like he needs a little recognition. He probably feels all superior because he thinks he knows more about you in a certain area, and you probably make more money, so he feels things aren't fair. What talented underlings often don't realize is that they lack the skills that got YOU to where YOU are or they'd be in your place anyway....

Crankful · Post by **Crankful** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 4:13 pm

Alice, I'll work for ice at next year's burn....what is the job?

PJ · Post by PJ » Tue Oct 21, 2003 4:13 pm

alice wrote:i'll give you a job.

Another couple years of yoga, and I'll be able to give myself a "job."

alice · Post by **alice** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 4:30 pm

sed just came and left.

if you have something to say to him, a pm would be appropriate.

as far as the job offer goes, think karl marx.

what do you have to bring to this revolution?

herself · Post by **herself** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 5:20 pm

If you are addressing me w your comment, Alice, I don't use PM. Anything I have to say here can be said publicly. I rarely reply to PMs too in case anyone's wondering about why I don't respond. Why not pm alice instead? She seems very happy about the attention.

DE FACTO · Post by **DE FACTO** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 5:37 pm

Managers and Underlings?

I thought it was an S&M thing.

alice · Post by **alice** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 5:39 pm

it is, dear.

DE FACTO · Post by **DE FACTO** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 5:40 pm

alice wrote:it is, dear.

Well tie me up and wip me with a noodle.

alice · Post by **alice** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 5:45 pm

i can't come to the door right now; i'm doing the dishes!

Sylvia · Post by **Sylvia** » Wed Oct 22, 2003 4:53 pm

Anyone know the words to "Okie from Muskokie?"

SED · Post by **SED** » Wed Oct 22, 2003 4:54 pm

Hey everybody, this thread had a point to it. Much thanks to those who have responded. Everybody else, please move on.

BTW I don't have any problem with the assistant anymore. He and I had a good heart to hear, I bought him and his girlfriend a drink at the local tavern, and I got fired.

Funny how life works out. But at least my dad didn't die today. Thanks to Markov, I only spent about 45 minutes nailed up on the self-pity cross.

Alice, what's the pay? Any health benefits? Childcare? What qualifications do I need?

SED

herself · Post by **herself** » Wed Oct 22, 2003 4:54 pm

You got fired? That's stunning! I've been fired a few times and of course, it always turned out well because usually I only get fired if I'm very unhappy in the job, so often the kick in the ass is what I needed. But you have to get through the unemployment stretch first... Are you also SED? Oh, sorry was confused, now I see you're different people.

Crankful · Post by **Crankful** » Thu Oct 23, 2003 12:03 pm

Most jobs suck....that is why they call it work....Alice, I can photo your good side....see my picture under images (Schultz)

herself · Post by **herself** » Thu Oct 23, 2003 12:15 pm

hey Crank, I don't agree. I think the trick is finding a job you like to do, making yourself invaluable there, and then doing whatever you want, on your own terms, so long as it continues to be valuable to the organization. Look at Badger. He kicks ass at his job at Stanford, presumably gets paid well, and loves it. The same is true for me (admittedly, though, pay can only be so good at a university).

so many people don't realize that you CAN get paid for work you like to do. Though I have to say it took me about five years in the workforce before I ended up in something that I actually liked.

harriet

electrolux · Post by **electrolux** » Thu Oct 23, 2003 1:49 pm

i once got fired from K-mart for 'showing a lack of initiative'. one of the best moments of my life.

Chai Guy · Post by **Chai Guy** » Thu Oct 23, 2003 4:47 pm

Sorry to rain on your parade Chai Guy but this is one of my personal pet peeves about corporate Amerika. I've had 3 years now of these books and mindset shifters and they never work for us.

I agree, any paradigm change that isn't followed through with and supported by everyone is bound to fail.

I once had an employer bring in this nutrition guru, the guy spent all morning talking about the value of proper nutrition, raw foods, vegetarianism. It was borderline religious and it made me uncomfortable, but I was trying to keep an open mind. Then the employer brought in lunch (as was the custom during these kinds of trainings) Pizza, chips & sodas. The whole room errupted in laughter, I mean how were we supposed to change our eating habits when the multi-million dollar company wouldn't even spring for real food?

J · Post by J » Thu Oct 23, 2003 5:33 pm

Kinetic II wrote:Oh man, not the corporate book of the year thing again. Let's see, with Sprint in 2002 it was Gung Ho!, this year it's the FISH book.

Spencer Johnson's new book "The Present" is out, the companies are going to be cramming it down your throat soon.

I feel your pain, I work at a bookstore. I have to look at that crap everyday.
Fortunately I've never been forced to read them.

J

tzimisce1313 · Post by **tzimisce1313** » Thu Oct 23, 2003 6:19 pm

electrolux wrote:i once got fired from K-mart for 'showing a lack of initiative'. one of the best moments of my life.

you need initiative to work at k-mart?

Crankful · Post by **Crankful** » Fri Oct 24, 2003 1:48 pm

I meant work as opposed to not having to work. Herself is right about finding something meaningful to do in what ever your asigned lot in life is....I have worked for the federal gov for twenty four years and had good and bad days but it is how fulfilled YOU are at the end of the day that really matters....did I earn what I got today or not....now if BRC would just open an employment office we would all be set.

Flux · Post by **Flux** » Fri Oct 24, 2003 1:55 pm

I like Drew Carey's joke (paraphrasing here):

Oh, you hate your job? Well, there's a support group for that. It's called everyone and we meet down at the bar.

Chai Guy · Post by **Chai Guy** » Fri Oct 24, 2003 4:00 pm

G.W.B. · Post by **G.W.B.** » Wed Nov 26, 2003 1:54 am

tzimisce1313 wrote:
electrolux wrote:i once got fired from K-mart for 'showing a lack of initiative'. one of the best moments of my life.
you need initiative to work at k-mart?

What's wrong with K-mart?

DE FACTO · Post by **DE FACTO** » Wed Nov 26, 2003 2:07 am

wow I forgot about this thread.

Managers and Underlings

Managers and Underlings

What's it pay?

stop pushing...I'm moving as fast as I can

living to work versus working to live