The Management Struggle is Real

If you're looking for sound advice to save your team or your sanity, you've come to the wrong place.  Or the right place, as long as you appreciate humor along the way! 

So.  I've been managing employees for over two decades in the sign industry, starting before my son was born.  Let me tell you that it has been an adventure.  I've managed teams of three to teams of twenty.  It doesn't matter the size of your team, you will suck as a manager.  Please don't be upset about it, just own it, it'll make your life easier 😂  I mean, who can please e-v-e-r-y-o-n-e ?

I've learned in my later years that I needed to become a leader rather than a boss.  Someone my team looks up to and will come to for help.  It's so much easier to be a boss and just give out orders though!  That whole "There's no I in Team" phrase is no longer monotonous, it's essential. But as a good leader you are now analyzing everything you say, everything you do and how you say it and how you do it.

The biggest take away from my continued learning is that it doesn't matter what your intentions are, it's how your message is perceived by others.  That's a big one and really impactful when you get it right.  Oh, and never stop learning to be the best version of yourself.

The bottom line is, employees have so much going on in their personal lives, so when they come to work they need that support so they can feel seen and not judged.  Happy employees make incredible workers!  Let's go be great leaders!  

They need us.