Manager For A Day

Wednesday I went to work worrying about a son who has spent the last two years trying to recover from an on the job back injury, fighting through the California workman's comp system that seemed determined to get him hooked on pain pills rather then fix his back. I went to work worrying about a granddaughter who was sick, watching her struggle to breath. And those that know me, understand why watching a child struggling to breath is difficult and causes me concern. Poor child had a cold but hearing that sound takes me back to another child who struggled to breath.

So Wednesday I came to work with elephants on my back. And then had what I considered to be a breach of etiquette from my manager. I went home and fumed, and had a little pity party for myself and wrote a scathing email to my supervisor, which fortunately I decided to send to myself at work instead. When I went to work that morning I talked to my supervisor expressing me anger and told her I felt the need to go to HR after attending a preplanned training session.

About an hour into the training I had an epiphany moment. I went back to the early years I spent as a manager at Xerox to a moment when I talked to someone about some perceived failure of theirs to to do their job to my specifications. I spoke firmly but later was told I spoke harshly and out of turn. I remember my sense of frustration to this day. I don't remember why I was frustrated, but most of all I remember being told I spoke too harshly with no acceptable management skill.

After the training ended I met with my supervisor and my manager and we talked. funny how talking rather then bitching resolves the issue. Talking with my manager not about my manager is what a grown up person does to resolve problems. Gossiping to fellow coworkers compounds the problem and fosters negativity in the workplace.

What I am saying is being an employee is the easy job. You only have to worry about doing your job and satisfying your manager, one person. Your manager, on the other hand, has to find a way to manage each person in the department who comes to work with elephants on their back. Your manager has to keep each person on the path to reach department goals. Now keeping each person, who struggles with elephants on their back, on the path to the end zone is very difficult. As a manager you have to reach that goal because you have a manager to please.

When you are feeling sorry for yourself keep this in mind. Your manager is expected to make you successful because if you fail your manager is deemed to have failed to make you successful. You, as an employee only have to worry about two people...you and your manager. Your manager on the other hand has to worry about every single person who reports to them and who they report to.

Which job would you rather have?

As the worker bee, you can whine about what you perceive to be miscarriages of justice in the work place. Or you can stop expecting your manager to meet every single emotional need you have.

So today, I have decided to go to work with a positive attitude. Today I have decided to go to work and not blame me, my manager or the elephants on my back for the difficulties I find in my day.

And I won't expect my manager to be perfect. I will remember why I decided I didn't want to be a manager, because everyone expects you to be perfect and have all the answers.

And I will remember that I am not perfect.

Love to You and Yours,
NanaCarol