Given the reality of my situation lately the question I have been asked more than I care to admit is this: What kind of Manager are you? Interesting question and not one I really think about too often. I know what kind of manager I want to be, but what kind of manager am I? I have thought really hard about this the last couple of months in particular and have had a hard time figuring out how to approach the question, so I thought I'd start with what a manager is not.
I have had the unfortunate displeasure of working under some real "characters" as managers and I have plenty of material of what kind of manager I don't want to be (especially lately). I think the most important thing I never want to do is take my frustration out on my employees. I know this is hard and isn't as easy as it sounds, but just because your life sucks doesn't mean you take it out on those under you. If the employees are not allowed to do that why should you? I get that there are some really hard decisions that have to made in that position, but making everyone else miserable doesn't make things easier it just makes everyone hate you. I think being a manager is like being a Crew Encourager. You may not always want to be there, you may be miserable at times, and you may not always agree with your crew chief, but you put on a smile and you encourage and lift up your kids so that if you asked them they'd think you were always on cloud 9.
Also, if I do make the unfortunate mistake of wrongly accusing an employee of something, or throwing a temper tantrum like a 5 year old when I didn't get my way I want to be able to apologize for it. I mean a real apology, not an excuse, not a sorry, but...A real apology. I think your character is defined by how you treat others when you are at your wits end and super stressed. That's when you find out what kind of manager you really are, and as I learn I'm sure I'll screw up, but I want to be big enough to make it right, whole heartedly.
The third big thing I DON'T want to be is incompetent and dependent. I don't want to not know how to do something in the store. As a manager you should be able to do everything, not need to, but be able to. I don't want to have to be dependent on others to complete my job. That's sad and it makes your employees lose respect for you.
I get that every manager is different, but I have only been shown positive characteristics by one man and it isn't who I am under now (in case you were wondering). He was a man who didn't yell at you in front of the employees in front of you (especially when it was based on an incorrect assumption and I had done nothing wrong), he never made assumptions based on half facts, and he treated his employees like...gasp...people. As a manager you are afforded a certain respect. It is expected, but anything extra is earned, including, but not limited to trust, loyalty and respect as a person. I want to inspire these things in my employees.
So those are what I don't want, how about some things I do want.
I know you can't be BFFs with your employees there will come a time that will become problematic, but I don't see a problem with having a relationship with them. In the military your commander is that a commander, but you have to have a commdere and respect because you have to trust him in combat. I want to be respected but I want them to feel loyal to me because they know I will have their back. Loyalty is important to me. With loyalty you have trust and if I have trust there is nothing a team can't accomplish.
I also want to be a manager who enjoys my job. I don't want to dread going to work every day. I want to want to interact with our customers, and employees. I want to be visible and work alongside my staff to meet a common goal. I want them to know I am going to work just as hard as they are to meet whatever goals and expectations I have of them. I will be held to the same standard as everyone else. If they need a cashier I will go check someone out. If a Bible needs imprinting I will do it, if I am expecting my keyholders to close once a week so will I. I'm not special and I don't want them to resent me or hate me.
I guess ultimately what I have decided these last 2 months is I don't want to be a manager at all. I don't want to be who the company wants and fit inside their cookie cutter definition of amazing. I want to remain me. I kinda feel like Peeta in the Hunger Games when he tells Katniss that the capitol can make him go to the games, but they can't make him kill. If he's going to die he's going to die as himself. If I'm going to be successful I am going to be so as Rachel. I want to be true to who I am and who I am is not a cookie cutter manager. So what does that mean? I wish I knew. There is no sign saying turn here and live your life here. Wouldn't that be nice? Instead I am here, stuck in a town I hate, in a job I'm growing to hate working under a man I don't trust and all the while trying so hard to stay positive for my staff. You never know, maybe I'll be heading to LA soon to make my dreams come true and do something for me, just once...
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