Manager Level Up!
Today turned out to be a great day for me as a manager. Everything started off as bleak as possible, but everything turned out beautiful in the end. Good thing, too, as this was a pivotal day for the store in our preparations for the Holiday season.
The first part of my day was something that every manager dreads (or at least should dread)--what we call the "Performance Improvement Process." Basically, talking to an employee about the need to shape up. Luckily, I conducted the meeting with my store manager, which means I took a back seat mostly, observing and learning. The employee was frustrated about having the meeting, and brought up several good arguments which made things difficult on our end, but it ended on as high a note as these things could.
After that, I was free to focus on the main portion of my day, the Merchandising changeout and New Release laydowns. That's when I got a lovely surprise--one of my most important people was sick. My specific preparation, doling out tasks to everyone, was thrown into disarray, and I began to panic a little. Thankfully, one of our other Merch people was able to come in and take over, but things were still in disarray.
After the doors closed and we went into full Merch mode, everything started to click into place. I went down to Starbucks to get a coffee traveler for everyone (best deal you can get there, $12 for 12 cups of fresh brewed coffee, "delish and nutrish" as the box itself said), feeling guilty about being there waiting for the coffee to brew, even though I could answer questions through my headset. After returning to coffee, I think I did my job--my current managerial position, that is, not just being a bookseller--better than I ever have before. I have always the problem that many supervisors and early managers have: trying to take on too much myself. This time, however, I was able to delegate as needed, help as needed, be there exactly when needed, fill in the holes when needed, basically guiding and pushing everyone along to reach the common goal. And the atmosphere was perfect. Everyone was so focused that they stayed past the time they were supposed to leave, even after 1 AM, because they just wanted to "get this one finished!"
Everyone did a fantastic job, and I think everyone felt really good about it. At least I hope they did; I certainly tried to praise them as much as possible for the amazing work I was seeing. And I really do feel that I did my job better than I ever have before. It just feels really, really good. I can only wish for more days like this. No, I can't just wish. I have to be the one to make these days happen. That's what being a manager is supposed to be all about.
The first part of my day was something that every manager dreads (or at least should dread)--what we call the "Performance Improvement Process." Basically, talking to an employee about the need to shape up. Luckily, I conducted the meeting with my store manager, which means I took a back seat mostly, observing and learning. The employee was frustrated about having the meeting, and brought up several good arguments which made things difficult on our end, but it ended on as high a note as these things could.
After that, I was free to focus on the main portion of my day, the Merchandising changeout and New Release laydowns. That's when I got a lovely surprise--one of my most important people was sick. My specific preparation, doling out tasks to everyone, was thrown into disarray, and I began to panic a little. Thankfully, one of our other Merch people was able to come in and take over, but things were still in disarray.
After the doors closed and we went into full Merch mode, everything started to click into place. I went down to Starbucks to get a coffee traveler for everyone (best deal you can get there, $12 for 12 cups of fresh brewed coffee, "delish and nutrish" as the box itself said), feeling guilty about being there waiting for the coffee to brew, even though I could answer questions through my headset. After returning to coffee, I think I did my job--my current managerial position, that is, not just being a bookseller--better than I ever have before. I have always the problem that many supervisors and early managers have: trying to take on too much myself. This time, however, I was able to delegate as needed, help as needed, be there exactly when needed, fill in the holes when needed, basically guiding and pushing everyone along to reach the common goal. And the atmosphere was perfect. Everyone was so focused that they stayed past the time they were supposed to leave, even after 1 AM, because they just wanted to "get this one finished!"
Everyone did a fantastic job, and I think everyone felt really good about it. At least I hope they did; I certainly tried to praise them as much as possible for the amazing work I was seeing. And I really do feel that I did my job better than I ever have before. It just feels really, really good. I can only wish for more days like this. No, I can't just wish. I have to be the one to make these days happen. That's what being a manager is supposed to be all about.