I had a meeting with my 3 (!) bosses on Friday to talk about how my new position will function. I’m essentially going to take over managing the student workers. The problem is that the students are already managing themselves and don’t want a new boss.
I’m not sure how to handle the situation. I’ve never managed anyone before. I’m a very quiet and passive person.
My bosses gave me some advice on leadership styles and essentially told me that I need to be a mentor to these kids. In order to do this, one of my bosses said I need to come out of my shell.
I did not sign up for a job where I have to come out of my shell lol.
I wish I could offer more tips, though honestly I’m rather quiet myself. I mean, one thing to do is to lead by example. If they see you busting your ass they may be more inclined to bust theirs. I should add, though, absolutely do not do their work for them. If you do that, they will get accustomed to you doing it. These suggestions might not work as well with very young people, idk. Our employees are all at least 21.
Tbh I really regret accepting the promotion to manager. I used to enjoy my job, but that stopped a couple years ago when I was promoted.
My main problem, though, is having to deal with the public. That stresses me tf out, and it’s something I didn’t have to do in my previous role at work. Now I sometimes have to take customers myself when we get busy, and of course if an angry customer wants to talk to the manager that’s for me to handle.
They’re just people trying to get by. They are frustrated with older generations – and reasonably so – because they are getting locked out of the standard of life and home ownership possibilities that were accessible to older folk.
I’m sorry you have to work with the public. At my last job I was a medical receptionist. People would get upset or act threatening and it would trigger my fight or flight all day long. It was exhausting.
It’s tough out there for millennials too. I moved out of my home because I couldn’t afford it. Now I live in an apartment where the possibility of home ownership seems pretty remote. I can definitely relate.
Edited to add: My parents bought land and built a house in the early 80s on a limited income. It was definitely a different time.
It sure is. My daughter is living with us right now and feeling like a failure as an adult because she can’t afford her own place even with a good job. She’s doing everything right, we just happen to live in a country where our government spent the last decade doing everything wrong and it’s her generation that is paying hardest for it.
