This is an excellent and businesslike response.  The most important point is
in #2, "learn to live with it."  I believe also that a manager should have
his or her eye on what's going to happen down the road - the visionary side
of the job - and not be all tied up with overseeing day to day operations.
Daily oversight is a supervisory, not managerial, role.
Ross Weeks Jr.
Historic Crab Orchard Museum & Pioneer Park
Tazewell, Va.
http://histcrab.netscope.net

----- Original Message -----
From: "Wesley Creel" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2002 4:36 PM
Subject: Re: what is your management style?


> Good Afternoon Alessandra,
> (In 100 words....more or less)
> A good manager:
> 1.)  Tells staff what to do when to do it (in priority order);
> 2.)  Lets staff figure-out how to do it (manager then learns to "live"
with it);
> 3.)  Shares with staff as to why they are doing it;
> 4.)  Is the staff's primary cheerleader and coach;
> 5.)  Listens and responds to staff concerns with empathy;
> 6.)  Strives to maintain or enhance the staff's self esteem;
> 7.)  Asks for help in solving institutional problems;
> 8.)  Gives credit to staff when they have done well;
> 9.)  Follows the 12 points of the Scout Law; and
> 10.) Makes decisions carefully and communicates them ASAP, and keeps memos
to one page, e-mails to less than 100 words (more or less)....and all
meetings need an agenda and should be as short as possible.
> I hope this helps,
> Wesley Creel (an old Boy Scout)
> Administrator of Programs and Interim Director of Museums
> Pink Palace Family of Museums
> Memphis, Tennessee
> www.memphismuseums.org
>
> >>> [log in to unmask] 01/27/02 08:47AM >>>
> OK, here's a question: I am a few years out of school and have happily
> progressed from good entry level positions to more advanced ones, where I
> have also done well. However, I've never had to manage someone until now!
>
> My question is, what are your tips for being a good manager, while still
> getting out the work of  your department on time, with stellar quality?
>
> Two things to know here: I am a bit of a perfectionist/control freak, so I
> worry a lot of the time about whether something's being done properly (not
> only whether i explained it correctly but also whether the person has the
> motivation to do a good job) and second, I have been in situations in the
> non-profit world where I had a nightmare boss who harassed me, belittled
my
> work, and generally left me so shaken (as a 24 year old woman) that I lost
> all self confidence and considered leaving the field. Luckily, i left that
> job and heard through the grapevine that after doing the same thing to
> others, she was being investigated/reprimanded. I only wish at the time
that
> I was aware enough of my rights to bring a suit against her for
harassment.
> It's too late now, but I really wish I had.
>
> I think there are far too many bad managers out there--how do I not turn
into
> one? what's your advice to make sure your department's work is stellar,
> without my employee feeling like i'm breathing down their neck all the
time?
>
> I already mentor high school students in my rowing club, and that's so
much
> simpler; i can feed off their enthusiasm and give them guidance, while
> letting them be free to take their own direction. But museum work counts
> more, perhaps since i'm getting paid and am held responsible for another's
> work. Besides, I feel like certain people take jobs in this field (and any
> field) for prestige rather than because they love the work, and while I
think
> it's important to have a balanced life and not spend all one's time at the
> office, I also want people to be committed to what they are doing.
>
> OK. End of ramble. Please, let's discuss.
>
> --A youngish person who is new to the field,
> Alessandra Phillips
>
> In a message dated 1/27/02 4:13:56 AM Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask]
> writes:
>
>
> > Jan 26, 2002
> >
> > Well put, Rick.  I think many of the folks on this list are glad to
> > answer questions from the younger crowd.  But the only question we
> > get asked that comes to my mind is, "How do I get a job?"  Now,
> > that's certainly a worthy question, and one that ought to be
> > discussed two or three times a year, but there must be other
> > questions you have.  How about it, Rick (and you younger people), is
> > there anything that we more experienced people might have some
> > answers to that would be useful?
> >
> > -Jim
> >
>
>
>
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