The First Line Manager

Book excerpt: Why should you want to read my book? I was a first-line manager of several businesses for over 40 years. There has been many changes in attitudes and business practices over these years. Therefore, I believe this saying is true "experience is the best teacher, it just costs too much." It is my wish that my experience and my stories will save you time and money. My life changed when I became a manager. I was sandwiched between managers making a career and employees making a living. First-line managers are the backbone of a business. These managers are usually the only ones who understand what it takes to make a product or provide a service. They are the ones on the shop floor or customer service office who keep the company in business day to day, hour to hour. If someone in middle or upper management is absent, no problem, the business will still function on the first line. However, when first-line managers are absent, some part of the plant or service process will suffer, and thus, the business. When the production line or the service line backs-up or slows down, the company expects the first-line manager to get it moving again. First-line managers stand in the gap between the business and the customer. They are the deal-makers in any business. Here are confidential comments on management surveys made by my team members. These are the blurbs that count most for the evaluation of my management style. Team member comments: Comments exactly as given on upward and 360 surveys.GREAT DECISION MAKER TAKES INITIATIVE PEOPLE ORIENTEDForward vision always learning Honest, good listener, provides employee empowerment Knowledgeable - Honest / Fair - DedicatedVery knowledgeable of companies business, has wise visions very courteousGood communicatorDependability Cares about Company and peopleJim handles a changing environment well. He tries to help with difficult situationsDedicated to what he is doing prompt in getting answers to problemsDedicated knowledge of APCo COMPANYHere is my last evaluation: As a manager/supervisor, you are especially good at... employee comments: Allowing us to manage ourselves as a group. He is our leader, but he does not dictate. If we come up with a solution to a problem that affects us as a group, he allows us to handle it as long as we as a group agree on it.He's an excellent leader.Empowerment and EncouragementListening to employees problems and working with us when we have personal needs> Following through with special request & projects. Jim is a wonderful supervisor whom I feel truly cares for his employees, as a co-worker & a person. He is someone I know I can count on.> ACTING IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER, ALWAYS MAKES DECISION THAT'S BEST FOR THE WHOLE WORK GROUP, AND ALWAYS WILLING TO GO THE EXTRA MILE TO GET THE JOB DONE. I CAN TRULY SAY, I FEEL BLESSED TO HAVE JIM AS MY SUPERVISOR. HE IS DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB. I AM VERY GLAD HE IS APART OF OUR WORK GROUP.