I Don’t Want Your Job

Twenty-five years ago, I started a job that proved to be very difficult, except for one thing: I had a great manager. She was very matter-of-fact and to the point, and you always knew where you stood with her. But generally she accepted people as they were and you stood in good stead. Assuming, of course, you were getting your work done.

I think being a good manager is a difficult thing. I’ve worked many jobs over the years, and there have been people I’ve liked who shouldn’t be in positions of authority, and others who’ve been a pleasure to work for because they had natural skills. Developing management skills if you don’t have the personality for that sort of thing is a challenge. I won’t say impossible, but not everyone is up for it. Still, they get the management jobs anyway.

I share a one quality with my dad when it comes to management, and that is, we don’t want those jobs. When I was in communications, I wanted to write and create. I had a supervisor who just didn’t get that. He was on the fast track and was doing everything possible to get promoted (which he did, he has a high-level position now). I’d say he wasn’t a good people person because he didn’t understand that not everyone thought like he did. Maybe he changed over the years, but I doubt it.

My current job isn’t a career job for me, and I think my manager gets that. When I interviewed for the post, I asked how long the people who’d had the job before me had held that position. I wanted to know if there was a lot of turnover. Turns out there wasn’t. I told her I was looking for a job I could stick with for a long time. I think, although I don’t know for sure, that that point helped land me the position. It turned out to be a good match for me.

Being a manager is tough, and I don’t envy anyone that position. If I had any advice for my supervisors, it would be to hold your employees accountable if they make a mistake, but don’t dwell on it. Figure out where you go from there, and follow that path.