I'm a list person. I know that it doesn't sound like me, as I'm wacky-crazy, bad at blogging due to ADD, can't hold my attention on something for more than a minu.....
Anyway, no matter what you may know about me or may think, I am a list person. It helps me keep things going while my brain goes 1000 miles per hour. Finally, this blog post has made it to the top of the list. The fact that I am a list person is something that I've definitely discovered about myself this semester because of the Zone. I've started using www.tadalist.com to manage the things that I need to do at the Zone (and my life), as well as when events are. The list making helps me not forget assignments I have at the zone and helps me prioritize things that are important based on time. For example, making a phone call to plan a very expensive private event with a client to make them feel important takes a little more precedent to the document on how-to book an event in our EMS system at the time being. So, list making has become crucial to being a manager.
Another thing that I've learned this semester is that it's important for managers to define their relationships with their employees (or in our terms, crew). I thought this would be really easy because I'm a really easy going guy and am friendly with everyone. But this semester showed it to be anything but easy to make a line between BFF and boss. I was constantly having to be aware of the subject matter that I was discussing. It became necessary for respect's sake for me to not discuss certain things or to act a certain way. If an employee saw me being a fool and doing bad stuff at a party on Saturday, and then I had to tell them to clean the drains on Monday...things would have been difficult. I learned early (thankfully, not painfully) that this definition is necessary. It is, however, important to not come off as impersonal. I can certainly discuss difficult classes, my opinions on politics, advice about social situations, and celebrity gossip with anyone at work. The most important thing that I learned was that this whole relationship definition works best when you become the listener-not the subject. If every time I see "Samantha," I ask her how her and her boyfriend's relationship is, how school is going, and what it's like in her part of the country; she thinks that I'm a good friend and a trusted colleague without me having to share anything that could possibly be compromising. This was probably the most important thing I learned this semester.
The last thing that was uber important that I learned this semester is the need to create an atmosphere and an image. My job (which involves promotion and event planning and much email correspondence) requires me to be on the internet and manager computer often. This could, understandably, look like I'm just messing around on facebook or dinking around on the web at work while the crew is hard at work doing physically conducive things. This is, of course, not the case. But, in order to remain respected and keep everyone happy with me, I have to make sure that the message is clear that I'm not doing irresponsible things or slacking off. I do this by casually mentioning what I'm about to do before I do it. I "put people in charge" and instill responsibility in staff that could use a boost or thrive with pressure, and then I say what I'll be doing and I have the opportunity to sit down. They feel like their empowered and if anything requires my attention, I'm still there, but I'm also able to do work without putting out a bad image. It was tough to grasp and I had to dispel bad feelings at first, but now I think I've got it mastered.
These are things I will definitely take with me wherever I work, especially if there are individuals that I manage. Another great resource that I found this semester was the trainings. I both learned how to train, and was trained this summer. Obviously, summer training was the most influential and rocked me to my core of understand of how to handle myself in managerial situations. However, I think the most crucial learning experience was the learning how to train others. I had to maintain the balance between teaching and babying. It's difficult to instruct without people feeling patronized. "I know how to put whipped cream on ice cream..." was a common phrase during training. The pinnacle idea in this process is the way you spin things and the importance you place in each task. Of COURSE you know how to spray whipped cream...but do you know the RutgersZone way? Do you know how long to squeeze for the ideal amount to maintain consistency? If you were getting this sundae, wouldn't you want your whipped cream to be perfect? It's really easy to make people understand the importance of learning things when you make every aspect of a job CRUCIAL to the success of our establishment (which, at the Zone, is pretty much the case).
With all that I've learned, I've made some goals for myself for the spring. The first goal that I hope to accomplish quickly is a binder that completely encompasses my job. I want to create a binder that makes it so that if I get hit by a bus, and there is a huge bar mitzvah the next day, anyone can come along and do my job just as I would have.
My next goal is to draw a lot of attention to the Zone from the private event standpoint. This includes a perfect brochure, and a buzz around campus that makes the Zone a PREMIER location for every private event.
My third and final (as well as most ambitious) goal is to revolutionize the way people experience a private event, and the quantify the proof that it's working. I want to make each private event a unique and finally crafted wonder that concludes with a very happy client that will communicate this joy through a newly-created feedback system that we can use to attract more clients and put RutgersZone on the map of New Jersey, let alone New Brunswick.
Last semester was so exciting, and I don't anticipate things slowing down in the spring. With new hours, two new staff members, and a refreshed, well-trained (due to our retreat Sunday) crew, I am expecting a semester for the record books. Look out, private event universe, RutgersZone is on it's way up.
Until next time,
Adam
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