NationStates Jolt Archive

Six weeks ago I was promoted to supervisor and was transferred to a new site (it's a chain). Since then I've been trying to do my job but I've felt as if I have been doing poorly. When ever I ask the site manager how I am going and if there are other tasks/responsibilities I should do he said I'm doing very well and compleating all of my responsibilities.

I try and direct the staff in a friendly way to impliment some changes that are needed, but it is very difficult as I am new and don't know anyone well. I am also limited by not being able to order disaplinary action. Every task I ask the staff to do they refuse unless I have explained my reasoning in every detail. Even then they often want to stand there and argue. I have recieved no support from management and little direction.

Many of my suggestions to improve the business have been ignored because 'the staff are set in their way and I (the site manager) won't make them change.' What use am I as a supervisor if no one takes anything I say on board? One of my biggest problems however is that I have no real responsibilities. When ever I go to do something in my job description it has almost always been done by either the state manager, the site manager or the other supervisor. Normally there is only one supervisor and one manager but we have two of both so this creates some overlap. This job was created specifically for me I was told when I was notified that I had the position (I was notified two days before the applications closed) and it's not like I badgered them to promote me.

Then yesterday the State manager had a talk with me and said that the site manager had been complaining about my work. The site manager had complained that I am not authoritive enough, I do not set a good example and I do not act enough like a supervisor. The other supervisor there is of little help to me, both of them tend to do what ever they have decided and then I look like a fool when I am not informed. I was informed that they were also unhappy with other areas of my work, but I was not informed which areas.

So trying to address that areas that have been identified and given that I am a stranger to the staff (pretty much young kids with their heads in the clouds and no sense of urgency or priority and who have little respect for me) and taking into account I am not allowed to disapline them (eg. I cannot give them warnings, refer/report them to the manager ect), does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can make them obey my orders? If I don't do what ever it is that they want me to do I will be out of a job in three weeks I have been informed.

Six weeks ago I was promoted to supervisor and was transferred to a new site (it's a chain). Since then I've been trying to do my job but I've felt as if I have been doing poorly. When ever I ask the site manager how I am going and if there are other tasks/responsibilities I should do he said I'm doing very well and compleating all of my responsibilities.

I try and direct the staff in a friendly way to impliment some changes that are needed, but it is very difficult as I am new and don't know anyone well. I am also limited by not being able to order disaplinary action. Every task I ask the staff to do they refuse unless I have explained my reasoning in every detail. Even then they often want to stand there and argue. I have recieved no support from management and little direction.

Many of my suggestions to improve the business have been ignored because 'the staff are set in their way and I (the site manager) won't make them change.' What use am I as a supervisor if no one takes anything I say on board? One of my biggest problems however is that I have no real responsibilities. When ever I go to do something in my job description it has almost always been done by either the state manager, the site manager or the other supervisor. Normally there is only one supervisor and one manager but we have two of both so this creates some overlap. This job was created specifically for me I was told when I was notified that I had the position (I was notified two days before the applications closed) and it's not like I badgered them to promote me.

Then yesterday the State manager had a talk with me and said that the site manager had been complaining about my work. The site manager had complained that I am not authoritive enough, I do not set a good example and I do not act enough like a supervisor. The other supervisor there is of little help to me, both of them tend to do what ever they have decided and then I look like a fool when I am not informed. I was informed that they were also unhappy with other areas of my work, but I was not informed which areas.

So trying to address that areas that have been identified and given that I am a stranger to the staff (pretty much young kids with their heads in the clouds and no sense of urgency or priority and who have little respect for me) and taking into account I am not allowed to disapline them (eg. I cannot give them warnings, refer/report them to the manager ect), does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can make them obey my orders? If I don't do what ever it is that they want me to do I will be out of a job in three weeks I have been informed.
For disciplinary action, how can they stop you from reporting their mutinous behavior? If not on paper, at least verbally. Thought that should be avoided, as every time you go to a higher authority, it diminishes your own.

Then, there's always the ultimate. You could call their moms!

If im reading you correctly, you work in a restaraunt?

If so, it sounds like your not the head guy in charge, but maybe someone in charge of the place during a shift?

If thats the case, and if you cant actually discipline anyone, then maybe your just taking this too seriously.
If your boss is telling you that your doing a good job, then I guess I wouldnt worry about anything.
They dont pay you enough to baby-sit children at work.
Working with young people, frankly, sucks, unless they can do thier own work.

In all seriousness, it may be just that your trying too hard to do whats right.
You sound like you really want to do a good job, and get evrything on track, and thats great too, but the state this seems to have you in will KILL YOU.
Dont worry about what you cannot change.
Just concentrate on what you can change.

Well if you're the supervisor you should be doing their time sheets. If they're not doing their job they're off the clock and you can send them home 'early' without resorting to discipline action. :D

You've been dumped in the poop. You've been given responsibility without power. All I can suggest is do less management. Find useful things to do, but give less direction. Often people you are supposed to be supervising will do things poorly, but before you tackle them about it, think about if facing them will help you. As far as your job is concerned, it doesn't matter if you help the company make more money, what matters is what people think of you. It may not sound right, but that's the way it is. Choose your battles carefully. Only tackle management problems that clearly need to be tackled. This should take some of the pressure off you, and you can think about what you want to do. You could ask to be demoted, but that could screw up any future chances of advancment. Having to explain things in detail is not good. Think about someone you know who is a good manager and think about imitating some of the things they do.

Cover your arse for now, keep a low profile, watch and learn. And don't let people walk over you. I know there is a strong temptation to be reasonable, but many people have a stong need to play dominance games, and if you cave, they'll never listen to you. Sigh. But, as long as you don't cave, it will get easier in time. My friend isn't very intelligent, but he manages well through cheerfull friendliness, and toughness when dealing with trouble makers.

" I cannot give them warnings, refer/report them to the manager . "





Talk to them firmly in a serious "no shit" kinda way and don't smile alot.

Tell them of your delimma. If you don't think they'd consider it as a sign of weakness or use it against you. It could help you all get to know one another better.

But the first is a must when dealing with hardheads.


Good luck in whatever happens.