Memorygirls - The Matrix Reloaded

Former_MSE_Andrea

Hi guys

I know you're all supporting each other tons on this thread and that's great. I'm afraid we do need to remind you of a few of our Forum Rules though, particularly, not to exchange personal details (including giving money to people via the forum), and not advertising your own websites.

Thanks for your help

MrsMoo2U

MatyMoo wrote: »

Very, very true!!!

To be honest I have never tried to be buddies with my staff as I think it makes it harder to manage them. Not always easy if you are promoted up through the ranks and go from being the colleague to supervisor/line manager/boss.Exactly how I feel. My first ever line management role was very difficult because I returned to an old office and ended up managing people who I had spent time in the same office with. Although I never worked on a section with them so they knew me as the young, fun person. They assumed that I would be a walkover and it was the hardest team I managed.

Luckily for me many of my ex staff are now friends so I must have done something right

Same here - some staff followed me to other offices by applying for jobs on my team as soon as they came up. I became close friends with a few when I left (likewise some old bosses are now my closest friends) I feel rather proud of that.

greenbee wrote: »

That's a good point... remember, they're your staff not your friends. You may be able to be friends once one or both of you are working somewhere else, but right now, its not about being liked, it's about getting the job done.

Interestingly I found that when I got the hang of this, my staff actually liked me more, and regularly delivered over and above what was expected of them. They worked hard, worked late, never switched their phones off and were generally lovely. In return, I wasn't fussed about working hours as long as the job was done (well, I could hardly complain that they weren't logged in at 9am when I was calling them at 11pm!).

My favourite management book - First Break All The Rules Definitely worth a read.

Love that book and well worth reading. I also love the one minute manager books for new managers. Souk try the One Minute manager meets the monkey - really good. I was always flexible wth staff. As a result none of my teams have ever had any sickness days recorded against them. If staff werent feeling up to scratch they knew that as a team we would work around it and for example if they had a sore throat they didnt answer phones and did somebody elses admin whilst their phonecalls were fielded by colleagues and things like that. I am a big believer in being flexible to get the best from staff. Although those that took the mickey soon knew about it and didnt try it on again.

fantasia322

MSE_Andrea wrote: »

Hi guys

I know you're all supporting each other tons on this thread and that's great. I'm afraid we do need to remind you of a few of our Forum Rules though, particularly, not to exchange personal details (including giving money to people via the forum), and not advertising your own websites.

Thanks for your help

Have we??????????
Searched back a couple of pages and couldnt personally find owt.
Links I posted were general links from t'internet, nowt personal to me etc. Am a little confused

clairewop

evening

How are we all?

I've been helping ds2 make a few cards today, it's lovely having a working printer again

While I was in Newport yesterday I bumped into a fellow jewellery crafter who has her own shop now and rents out cabinet shelves for £5 a month for crafters, so am thinking about it.

maryb

fantasia322 wrote: »

Have we??????????
Searched back a couple of pages and couldnt personally find owt.
Links I posted were general links from t'internet, nowt personal to me etc. Am a little confused

That might have been me.

MG please PM me - still waiting for a reply

fantasia322

clairewop wrote: »

evening

How are we all?

I've been helping ds2 make a few cards today, it's lovely having a working printer again

While I was in Newport yesterday I bumped into a fellow jewellery crafter who has her own shop now and rents out cabinet shelves for £5 a month for crafters, so am thinking about it.

Go for it Claire, yay x

InaPickle

clairewop wrote: »

evening

How are we all?

I've been helping ds2 make a few cards today, it's lovely having a working printer again

While I was in Newport yesterday I bumped into a fellow jewellery crafter who has her own shop now and rents out cabinet shelves for £5 a month for crafters, so am thinking about it.

£5 a month? You simply CANNOT say no at that price!

I think the Universe has just prodded you in the bee-hind. Get making that jewelry!

Keeping_Motivated

maryb wrote: »

That might have been me.

MG please PM me - still waiting for a reply

Maryb your offer to MG was very generous :A I'm just sorry that given your lovely offer you still have not had a response from MG :cool:

MG I know you seem to have a lot on at the moment but you have been ignoring quite a few peoples messages for a long time now and given that people have parted with money I don't think you are being fair especially when people have been so generous to you.

It only takes a minute to send a reply so I am not sure why you are avoiding people?

Craftyscholar

A general thought - offered to help, not criticise.

I know that several of you are running, setting up, considering starting your own businesses.

Being confident and positive and believing in your ability to succeed is essential, but 'stuff happens'.

Computer/internet problems. Illness, accident - to you or a family member. Supply/distribution snags.

There has to be a Plan B, some back-up in place. After all a lot of your customers will not be people you chat to who know your situation, they will be total strangers who expect a professional service.

greenbee

cherisong wrote: »

Same here - some staff followed me to other offices by applying for jobs on my team as soon as they came up. I became close friends with a few when I left (likewise some old bosses are now my closest friends) I feel rather proud of that.


Love that book and well worth reading. I also love the one minute manager books for new managers. Souk try the One Minute manager meets the monkey - really good. I was always flexible wth staff. As a result none of my teams have ever had any sickness days recorded against them. If staff werent feeling up to scratch they knew that as a team we would work around it and for example if they had a sore throat they didnt answer phones and did somebody elses admin whilst their phonecalls were fielded by colleagues and things like that. I am a big believer in being flexible to get the best from staff. Although those that took the mickey soon knew about it and didnt try it on again.

Same here... I find when I leave places there are some people I stay in touch with and become friends. Some of my closest friends are people who have worked for me or with me in the past - and if one or other of us hadn't moved on we would never have been able to be friends! As for the flexibility, some people don't understand how its possible as they expect staff to take advantage - but any decent manager knows whether people are working or not!

Craftyscholar wrote: »

A general thought - offered to help, not criticise.

I know that several of you are running, setting up, considering starting your own businesses.

Being confident and positive and believing in your ability to succeed is essential, but 'stuff happens'.

Computer/internet problems. Illness, accident - to you or a family member. Supply/distribution snags.

There has to be a Plan B, some back-up in place. After all a lot of your customers will not be people you chat to who know your situation, they will be total strangers who expect a professional service.

Good advice - customer service is the thing that really makes or breaks a relationship with any business. People are prepared to pay a premium for it, but are also put off otherwise good products and services if the customer service is poor.