Dear Bobbie,
I am a new department manager for a
retail store. I manage about 7 employees for my department. I am the
third manager and I am working with some lazy people who
complain about me and each other. It seems like they are trying to
push me out and I wont let that happen. I am off for 2 days and it
seems like nothing is getting done. I am short staffed and I work my
butt off. They make me out to be the bad manager, what can I do to
make it better for myself and my employees?
Sue
Dear Sue,
The first step is to stop
scheduling two days off in a row, which I assume you are doing.
Although it is very nice to have two consecutive days off, too much
can happen in the retail environment in two days.
The next thing you have to do is
consider some team building exercises. One idea is to arrange a pot
luck luncheon where you invite all staff to bring something and have
a buffet set up in the back room for lunch/dinner breaks. Ask the
staff for other ideas.
The next step is to do some soul
searching. Try to determine what is making your staff perceive you
as the ' bad manager'. Invite open communication. Talk to some of
your staff to find out what their concerns are.
In the final analysis, you all have
a job to do. Your company is paying you all to do what is necessary
to make the business successful. The business cannot be successful
if you and your staff are at odds with one another.
Remember to lead by
example...always. If that is not working then you need to evaluate
your staff members and apply performance management practices to
correct what is wrong.
Once you are sure that you are a
good, fair leader make some decisions about which of your staff
members are going to help you get to where you all need to be. Get
rid of those who are not on board.
Good Luck,
Bobbie
