Employer Type: Government - Federal (United States)

First I would like to say that coming from the rank and file it was a big eye opener when I took this job. I was in another position as a maintainance Planner and I had left a job as a Senior Operator that I had for 12 years. What I learned as a planner I took back as a Supervisor and things I learned as a operator I also included them in how I treat the team that I supervise.

First all Pray every morning that God keeps you humble, because the first thing that happens to new managers is being impressed with ones self. You need to know that if you don't produce results you won't last long.

Second Dress for the job you want to have look good, smell good and be well groomed. Even though I work in a enviroment that is very relaxed in the dress, I still try and look my best everyday.

Now I have left this for last but not because its of lower priority than the two above but because it will be what makes or breaks you. I took over a team that had a bad rep. Lots of personalities on this team and I was asked to see what I could do. Now I got alot of advice from the supervisor that was leaving but I truily wanted to make up my own mind. When I came in I gave them my expectations of what I wanted and needed from them. Next I told them what they could expect of me and what I know that I could do for them. I used lots of words like respect,credit,and honesty. I let them know about what was being said about them, how I wasn't listening to any of it that they was going to make my mind up for me.

I let them know that I needed to learn as well, I didn't know anything more than they did, just that I had a desire to be the best at what I was undertaking. If I looked good I promised to make it known how and why I was where I was. Six months later bcecause of them I received the highest rating among the 5 of us on our staff. Respect and how you treat people, saying thanks and please goes a long ways. Just some advice from someone that learns something new everyday. Lastly know your people, say someting kind, ask with meaning how they are doing and be able relate to them on some level.

If you want to be taken seriously, DO NOT COME to work looking like you are going to the mall or the club. Your boss and your colleagues are just humans, prone to talk about inappropriate outfits. Speak like a professional and speak like an adult, leave the "I was like..." and the slangs and double negatives at home and retrieve them later. Behave like a professional and you will be treated as one.