I've had a revelation. At work and in life.
I've stopped caring what my employees think of me. I don't care if they think I'm nice, or if they want to talk to me about their lives (or not). I don't care if they all like my assistant more than me. I don't care if my assistant thinks I'm smart and or a good manager. All I care about is taking care of business at the store so I can get home and take care of my life. Because work is not the most important thing in life- it's who you love and how you spend time with them.
So the past 2 days I have gone back to work the way I used to. I started cracking down on laziness, both in myself and my staff. If someone is standing around, I give them a task. My intern is the worst. Her boyfriend works at another store so obviously she knows more than me. My assistant can't communicate and acts like a wet fish most of the time, so I show him how I can take charge. My almost 3rd-key has a growing 'manager confidential' file that she doesn't know about. My part-timer is a salesman and a half and has taken twice as long as a normal person to learn the basics.
Some other changes on the horizon:
-I will be setting my very high expectations for store appearance for everyone's section, which has already been divided up and posted. I will follow up on this when I see any slip ups.
-One on one lunch with each employee to make sure we are on the same page and address any concerns; also for me to express my concerns about performance before their annual review.
-Cracking down on that intern for standing around too much.
-Scheduling myself how I want to be scheduled, which includes being off by 4pm to make it to my favorite workout classes, and more Mondays off so I don't have to do the truck. Also considering working only one weekend a month with my assistant and 3rd key splitting the rest of them. I've earned it and I don't spend enough quality time with my husband.
-I will be off the day after Christmas this year. No more driving on Christmas Day. I've earned it too.
-Generally holding everyone accountable for their actions. If I ask for something to be done, it will be corrected by them if it's not done the way I want.
Bottom line is, it all falls on me. There's a reason I'm in this job, and it's not to make friends. It's to make money and grow my career. It's easy to lose sight of the big picture, especially for someone who hasn't had more than a long weekend off since Christmas 2010, who absolutely hates working on Sundays, and who knows that family and friends are the ones who will be there for you when the chips are down, not your coworkers or your boss or your customers.
They desrve the best of me too.
4 comments:
Love it.
AMEN and thanks for the wake up call to me - I needed that and you are SO right!!!
Yay! So we might actually get to see you! Can't wait!
Well said Allison.
I too, had to come to that realization when I was in a very demanding management position. When you are diligent in your job and have the kind of work ethic that you do (which is admirable and very rare to find these days), it tends to cause you to overwork yourself and demand less of your employees. Kind of the "it's easier to just do it myself" thing. But in reality, we are really just short-changing ourselves and really, our employees.
Very proud of you! Scott is very blessed to have you!!!
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