Best Way to Become a Good Manager

You’ve been promoted. Congratulations! One day you’re working the counter, asking customers if they want extra mayo on their sandwich. Or stocking clothes at Limited Too. Or working as a clerk in the bookstore. And then, you get that promotion. You’re now assistant manager or have some important title. You’re a boss! Other people report to you now.

It’s a whole different ballgame. Cait Pomeroy has promoted many teens to assistant manager in the bookstore she owns. And she sees some do better than others-way better. And here is what makes the stand­outs stand out:

Be able to deal with peer pressure. Younger managers have the added burden of peer pressure. You might be managing the people that you were on the same “level” with before. But suddenly you are the manager and being the boss of your friends. And there’s a very real possibility you will be walking the halls at school with one of your subordinates. That can be pretty intimidating.

These new responsibilities are not a license to settle old scores. It absolutely does not matter to our bookstore who was dating whom, who gossiped about whom, who had a date to the prom and who didn’t. Inside the bookstore, we tell both young managers and employees that it all has to be simply left outside. Once you walk in, it s all business.

Don’t play favorites. It is easy to fall into the trap of giving friends the better responsibilities and the better shifts, just because they are your friends. For example, one of the areas we allowed our young managers to take over was setting schedules. We had to watch out that favoritism didn’t occur. This can cause other employ­ees to resent the manager and can hurt morale.

Understand the chain of command. Always know who you report to, and who reports to you. Then there are no misunderstandings about who has the final say. This is especially important when there is a problem between you and someone who reports to you.

Don’t go on a power trip. Enough said.

Treat subordinates with respect. Don’t discuss any employee problems with friends or co-workers inappropriately. When you are a manager, you will be privy to some personal information. It might be tempting to gossip about what you know. But don’t do it!

Talk to your supervisor about any difficulties you have. It is important to feel you can talk with your boss freely about prob­lems you are encountering without feeling you’re failing.

Being a manager is a major step. Today, you’re managing the concession stand, the deli counter, the file room. It just might be your first step to CEO.