Management Issues

[karen_moomin]

Help!

I won't go to the lengths of explaining what I do, but the basics are as follows:

I work in a small office, I have a lot of responsibility and have an assistant who does a lot of my paperwork and I always have things for her to do. She's been here about 5 months.

The problem is, she's starting to get really cheeky and answer back at me, and I know she's not as busy as she makes out she is. If I ask her to do something that she's already done, she snaps, if she gets asked to do something, she thinks I'm "offloading" work onto her, and the thing which has really pissed me off today is that I'm going on a technical course this week and she thinks that she should be going on it - she's an administrator for god's sake!

Anyway, I'm obviously a crap manager with poor management skills - can anyone give me some advice?!

[dainesefreak]

No probs, get some of these;

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=30043

They can good for varying situations.

[Sparks!]

[Jebus]

Give her a formal warning, you get 3 of these i beilve and you cant get done for unfair dismissal or as she is a woman sexual discrimination. She is either just power hungry or in need of a shag!

[headlamp]

Having managed people (up to 120 at one time but that's another story), it is a question of motivating her. You have a choice of two approaches, one is hard nosed the other being caring & sharing. A lot will depend on her age.

If she is young and this is her first job, you have to put her in her place - tell her straight, it is not her job to question you, and that if she wants your job and get on, then she has to change her attitude. If you do this then do it in a closed office. Tell her unequivocally that you are the boss and what is expected of her, maybe even give her a task list of what you expect.

The other approach - is more friendly, find out why she is behaving why she does and offer to 'work with her' to solve any issues. Agree targets with her and agree to review them in two or three months. If you think she is the kind of person that will take liberties in this approach then don't use it - it will only exacerbate the problem.

Finally, never forget that - whatever approach you take - you are the boss, and don't let her forget it either!!

Good luck!
H
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[mazza]

Karen, there's two ways for me to approach this. I'll give you both.

1. Time Out
Have a quiet chat and get to the bottom of what her problem is. If she's evasive or pretends nothing is wrong then carries on as she was, then put her onto the disciplinary process... 1 warning, second and final written warning (referring to the first warning)...out.

Make her realise that an employment environment is not a democracy and doesn't have to be fair. What the boss wants, the boss gets. It applies to us all from bottom to top.

2. Gulp, here goes...
If you need to ask, are you ready to be her boss?
Sorry Karen, it's harsh and I do sense that you're a nice person so don't really want to offend. But giving it straight is my (if rather crude) way of offering the best advice. Remember too that managing people is largely down to instinct, developed by experience and training. Look inwards for the answers!

I think this is a minor hurdle that you should be able to crack easily and quickly on your own.

Good Luck anyway.
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[Inglesina94]

Sit her down and go thru the departmental structure and roles and explain to her that her attitude is not the right one ... treat it as an "informal friendly chat" but make clear that if things do not change than the next one will be a proper verbal warning.

Try to define some objectives/targets and a development path. It could be that after a few months she has become familiar with her current role and it takes her less time to do it, hence she may be getting bored and in need of new challenges.

Good luck!
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[karen_moomin]

Mazza - you're right. I'm not ready to be a boss. I didn't have any choice in the matter unfortunately.

I find it difficult to be her manager one minute and her friend the next - the environment in which we work is very laid back so there is lots of tom foolery and silliness from both myself and my manager, which of course she sees and wants to be part of, which is understandable. It's a bit of a tricky one!

Thank you for the responses guys, keep them coming. I will keep pondering!

[dainesefreak]

How about the "big stick" approach?

[Fallen Angel]

Karen, by the sounds of it, she needs a good boot up the arse!! And yes, I perhaps agree with mazza, perhaps you need to be more assertive!

Good Luck
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[tgabber]

A lot of good advice so far, I particularly agree with Headlamp and mazza.

One other strategy I would suggest is that the two of you try a "job swap" for a day (or more) to try to better understand each other's perspectives on what you've got to do.

Certainly seems to work for wives and Channel 4...
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[mazza]

[synaptyx]

Absolutely mazza.

[1stGarry]

Some really incisive and useful advice given so far.

The only thing I'd add, is to say that you can't be a friend and a boss at the same time.
You must maintain a distance - draw a line that neither of you should cross.
It'll be hard at first, especially if you're already friends, but you are at work to work and earn money, and it's your career/future that is No1.

I suspect that most people who've given you advice have learnt it the hard way, just like you're going through right now.

You're lucky 'cos you've got all these friends you can call on!
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1stGarry

[sv_cath]

Delegating isn't easy, but you're going to have to put your foot down before she gets any more out of order!
If you find it difficult to confront her yourself, is there anyone else, maybe more senior, who could have a word with her?

*good luck*!!

[skida]

The more friendly you are with your staff the more offended they get if they are being managed. Keep a little distance between yourselves. You really do need to control this situation as quickly as possible because the longer it goes on the more her behavior becomes "the norm".

I suggest you have an informal chat telling her all the good things she has done since starting and then stating what standards of behavior you expect before finishing it off with how much you respect her abilities to get the job done. A simple telling off will destroy her morale and make her hate you which in turn will erode her wish to do a good job.
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[Annabella]

I would be tempted almost to say that you're not giving her enough work with some feel of responsibility.... If she is also being cheeky about having already done something, then really load her up with work. Give her the most mundane, yet important and taxing work you can imagine. Make sure its worthwhile and will benefit you at the end of the day (how about computerising some of you data files...?)
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