I hate being a BOSS!!!!

[katymac]

I have two ladies who help me

I always work round what they want

This time I came up with version 1
Person A liked it Person B didn't

Version 2
Person B liked it Person A didn't

Version 3
Person A liked it Person B didn't

So I told them to get together and sort it out themselves or I'd cut both their hours and stuff the lot of them

I don't want to employ people any more

don't blame you KM!

I give up

You can never please a staff team, never ever and that is what managers are for, to be winged and moaned at
At least you only have two staff to manage.

I don't want to

I'm going on a Building & Managing your team course - hopefully this will help

Here's the problem: "I always work round what they want".

A management course sounds like a good idea, so you can sort out when to tell them what to do and when to offer alternatives.

Yep - but I want them to be happy - I suppose I should be harder

Women often tend to be nicer managers coz they care about people's feelings. Emotional Intelligence and all that. Think you need to think "empowerment". Pass the problem to them to sort out. If they don't tell them you will dictate the solution! My experience of "trying to change" (from a softie) is that honesty is helpful, so they understand why you are changing your management approach. You can use the course as an excuse. Needless to say old habits die hard.

What about you being happy?

Oh I agree I need to be happy

However if I'm not happy - it doesn't affect my staffing levels

These ladies really bend over backwards to help me and have never let me down

They are great really

Katymac, agree with clerkkent. What is the problem, is it hours? Workload? Leaving it to them to come up with a workable plan that's acceptable to you is a good idea. Make it clear though that if it's not good enough you will impose your plan because you're the boss. And actually, I think you DO need to be happy and they need to know this!

And it could affect your staffing levels because #unhappy boss can = not such a good boss (like an unhappy mother!) = people not wanting to work for you = affecting staffing levels as people leave and you can't keep the ones you've got!
I think keeping your boss happy, whoever you are, has got to be fairly high up anyone's list of priorities at work. I think I'm doing my job if I keep my boss's boss off my boss's back.

They have sorted it out - amicably

I think their husbands may have pointed out I was being reasonable

Now I have the staffing I need - without having to lay down the law

What a relief

The problem is hours btw

I came up with the hours I needed and asked them to ensure I had the right numbers....and they have