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marmotta
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14 Apr 2008, 6:02 am

My new boss was looking for a floor supervisor. I wasn't about to apply for the job, but I heard that someone who loves to make my life miserable was going for the same position.
So, I interviewed.
The one question that seemed to please him the most: Do you have any friends on your shift? I answered honestly, that I do not...all of my friends are from another department.
I start tonight, and get one night training. My predecessor had two weeks. My co-workers thought I was starting last week and staged a one day call off in protest.
Oh boy.



alex
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14 Apr 2008, 6:24 am

wow, that's great. Congratulations!

Don't be too much of a hard ass to your employees. :evil: :wink:


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LostInEmulation
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14 Apr 2008, 7:16 am

Congrats! :D


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marmotta
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14 Apr 2008, 8:32 am

You know Alex, two other supervisors expressed concerns to our manager that I would be a hard ass. I'm not seeing where that would come from... I don't register much facial expression at work...not much point in it.
Still think its odd they were specifically looking for someone who does not make friends easily.



AnnieDog
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14 Apr 2008, 11:35 am

Marmotta: Congrats!

I don't know how you communicate verbally, but you could be like me. If I'm going to have a difficult or complex discussion about an issue, I tend to rehearse, think carefully, and even write out an agenda with talking points. This means that when I open my mouth, I sound like a professor lecturing students or dictatorial. Since the lecturing isn't tempered by jokes, smiles, or other non-verbal things that might otherwise put the recipient at ease, it can be off-putting and make me seem overly tough. Once they get to know you a bit better, your staff will understand that you're not *really* lecturing, you just talk that way. They'll even tell their co-workers that "you didn't mean it that way". At least that's what happened with me.

Chummy people can be lousy managers because they have a hard time telling their friends what to do. By not being friends with your co-workers, you were in a good position to manage them but it's like they promoted the square peg. If they are already being annoying (the one day call-off sounds like it), then quietly see if you can communicate with them one-on-one to figure out what their beef is. It could just be that someone popular wanted the job and didn't get it. Someone will likely appreciate you for being straightforward and will return in kind. (Someone else will be suspicious about it, but alas.)

Best Wishes!


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marmotta
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14 Apr 2008, 11:53 am

You and I do communicate in much the same way. I rehearse a lot of conversations in my head, always have....even as a kid. I won a lot of speech contests in high school as well.
There is a popularity issue, the other candidate was more popular on the floor, told everyone he got it, and bragged how he would let everyone keep longer breaks. Sorry to say, but the breaks must be reduced per upper management, and the sick leave can no longer be abused. No matter who got the job, enforcement of company policy would be mandatory.
My one training night is tonight. Bad thing about where I work, they speak quickly and expect you to get it on the first crack. I'm a visual learner, and note taker. Audio directions are pointless lol.
Time to get ready...



curiouslittleboy
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14 Apr 2008, 1:53 pm

Congrats on your promotion...but that sounds a bit weird that you'd only get one day of training vs. the two weeks that your predecessor got. O.o dang...



marmotta
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15 Apr 2008, 10:55 am

I know. but if I flat out refuse to fail, then I cannot fail. First night was strange. I'm off today and fly solo tomorrow.



Brittany2907
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15 Apr 2008, 7:23 pm

marmotta wrote:
Still think its odd they were specifically looking for someone who does not make friends easily.


I think it may have been because someone who doesn't make friends easily would most likely treat everyone as equals instead of giving their friends unfair advantages above other employees.


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Katou
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15 Apr 2008, 7:46 pm

A supervisoral/management position isn't all that bad. Sometimes us aspies have things that they're looking for!


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kornik
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16 Apr 2008, 10:24 am

Great.Congratulations and well done"!

Just goes to show we can do it. Being honest as well doesn't also mean a negative.

marmotta wrote:
My new boss was looking for a floor supervisor. I wasn't about to apply for the job, but I heard that someone who loves to make my life miserable was going for the same position.
So, I interviewed.
The one question that seemed to please him the most: Do you have any friends on your shift? I answered honestly, that I do not...all of my friends are from another department.
I start tonight, and get one night training. My predecessor had two weeks. My co-workers thought I was starting last week and staged a one day call off in protest.
Oh boy.



rifler39
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16 Apr 2008, 11:19 pm

One technique I used which with a (semi) hostile crew was to work with each in turn to have them teach me their job. If you already know how to do that job, ask for tips the worker knows that make it easier or better. They won't be afraid that you are going to take their job, because you are already past them in the food chain. You will be asking them to help you understand their problems and frustrations. And you can make personal contact with each one.

The important thing is to create a team which wants to work together to make the job easier. You need to be seen as the key to making things easier.

I don't know if this is much help to you, but it worked for me when I had a number of people working for me.

Pops


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MysteryFan3
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16 Apr 2008, 11:43 pm

The supervisors who bad-mouthed you may be friends of the other candidate, too. Seems like that joker spent a lot of time making friends by making empty promises. Sounds like a back-stabber. I hope your new crew learns to appreciate being treated fairly.


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