I feel one of my biggest weaknesses is that I talk too loud about the things that are bothering me.
In conquering this weakness I've been trying to keep these two things in mind:
2. Choose your battles carefully.
I am open to any other advice.
Thank you Mr. Minor
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4 comments:
Lately, I've been ranting and raving a lot (out loud, obviously) about incompetence. A lot of the time it is right in front of the culprits. I've definitely taken a less subtle approach to pointing out unacceptable work behaviors and I can't say one way or the other what effect it has had. It has definitely elevated the dynamic and gotten everyone abuzz, but it hasn't tangibly improved the situation. It's kind of like a really muddy truck after an afternoon 4x4ing; a couple sprays of the hose might make it look better, but it is still a pretty muddy truck. My particular truck looks as if it has been submerged in that dark river mud for a decade, but I have a really strong hose and lots of water. I'm just hoping it is only a matter of perseverance and not a test of the extent of my patience. That said, I am really trying to choose my battles wisely because there are some that I'm just not going to win this season.
I am the only manager in our hospitality department who hasn't taken time off this summer. I finally get a 2 day weekend to take my girl camping and get asked, "how was my vacation?" Every other manager has taken long weekends, double weekends, trips, and time off just because they can.
The other managers are telling me that they refuse to let this place rule their lives. Well someone has to pick up the slack. Someone has to be here to manage our employees. If I am working without weekends then the least they can do is work a 5 day, 40 hour week, right? Right??!
Somehow this isn't a battle I can win without quitting. We'll see what happens with that.
My new thing is that I am writing my own daily log to document this stuff. Then when that day comes that I do quit I will hand it over to the owner who already wishes I would tell him more about what is going on with the other managers.
It is appalling that it comes down to that. Our FOH managers usually outnumber us 4 to 1 (especially those of us that are lucky enough tto be the only BOH salaried management), but it is like pulling teeth to get a consistent flow of conscientious effort from them that is anywhere near the levels that we must tirelessly maintain. They all talk a good game in the manager meetings and one-on-one strategy sessions, but that never gets translated into action when the time comes. They'll walk right by a cook doing something that he would never do in front of you and they won't say a word because it just doesn't matter to them unless it directly affects them, their job or involves a customer complaint. They are the first one's to mention a problem during service and the last one's to offer a solution. I cringe at what goes on when I'm not in the kitchen, luckily that is only one full day and a few other hours per week, but what makes my heart hurt is what goes on when I'm not in the kitchen but alternative "management" is. Besides the obvious snub that FOH management never works a six-day week (unless it is sandwiching another vacation) and usually has two-days off in a row every week, the sour icing on the shit cake is that one or two of them somehow has off one weekend a month. I would have to blow a syphilitic goat (and swallow) to get a fucking Friday OR Saturday off.
I took yesterday off. Inventory needs to be done on the last day of the month. If I didn't take yesterday off then it would be a 2 week stretch before another day off. I am heading in now to go do it somehow feeling guilty that it wasn't done last night.
What is wrong with me?
I get told that I do it to myself. I set myself up for having to work so much. I guess I need to stand my ground more often. The reality is that if I wanted to take a long weekend, then someone else would have to work a longer week. It says something about job security. Everyone else can take time off and nobody really notices. For me to take a long weekend or vacation I have to plan weeks or months out and create lists for what needs to happen the days I am gone. Then of course I would have to work a 6 or 8 day stretch on both sides of my long weekend. Is it really worth it?
The last time I tried to take a long weekend I ended up having to cancel it 2 weeks out because of extra events and short staff. I had to change my travel dates to go visit my mother this last spring because of an important event. I have so far lost $300 in changing my time off plans this year. Plans that I made months in advance.
Like I said, the only end to it all is quitting. I'm not putting in my notice or anything. I just have to be realistic that quitting is the only way I can actually secure any travel plans without having to make later changes.
BTW, where the fuck did August go?
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