Cool and in charge?

September 6, 2007 1:08 AM

I'll be starting a new job soon as director of a branch office, and I'm looking for suggestions on how to make the best first impression.

The office only has about 20 people in it, with the rest of the company located back on the east coast. I'm already planning to bring a big box of chocolates on the first day (my wife's idea!), but I'm looking for other cool suggestions.

Since I'm new to both the company and the office, I want to make sure I set the right tone from the beginning. Any ideas?

posted by neurodoc to work & money (10 comments total)

One thing I remember when a new boss started in a previous job was that he took the time to talk to everyone in the team in person. He just said: "So tell me what you do..." No biggy, just a 15 minute chat.

It was good to be able to meet him face to face, and he found out a lot about each one of us at the same time.

Not strictly a first impression, but it can be done early on.
posted by Myeral at 4:21 AM on September 6, 2007 [2 favorites has favorites]

You could do a couple of references to The Office. Maybe show everyone your Worlds Best Boss mug and mention that you bought it at Spencers.
posted by rdurbin at 6:53 AM on September 6, 2007

I'm always impressed when people manage to learn everyone's names, without looking like they're making a big effort.
posted by creeky at 7:07 AM on September 6, 2007

I really like it when my managers have asked, "Do you need anything?"

It lets me know that a) they want to help and that b) they want to give me the tools I need to get the job done right.

Make time for everyone on a regular basis. Have 1-1 meetings, ask their opinions on how a work project turned out. Give them opportunities to teach you.

Buy lunch or a round of beer for everyone at the office once in a while. Find a way to make it work with the budget, even if the budget is tight.

"Gee, we really need some plants/art/new copier around here."

Use the same desk chair as everyone else. I hate it when bosses have boss chairs. Everyone's special and everyone's back hurts. Get nicer chairs if you can and keep yourself on the level with everyone else if you can't.

Don't talk about golf with anyone who doesn't golf. Be especially aware of golfers who don't have time for golf because of family and work commitments. You know what to do!
posted by cior at 8:06 AM on September 6, 2007

Communicate, and by that I mean listen.
In other words n-thing Myeral and Cior.

Perhaps start something fun, like a weekly wine lottery? Good low cost motivation stuff always helps people want to work there and aids retention.
posted by arcticseal at 8:30 AM on September 6, 2007

Seconding what Myeral suggested. I had a new boss on a 20-person remote team who did this in her first week, and it really got her off on the right foot with all of us.

First, she made appointments with us. Nothing super-formal, but "How does your calendar look on Wednesday afternoon? Do you have a 30-minute block where we could visit one-on-one?" It made people feel respected immediately -- that she was asking for a meeting, not informing... and demonstrating that she perceived our time was also valuable and she wasn't going to just assume we were free when she was.

(Plus, to be totally honest, most of us were entry-level lackeys, and to be asked "how our calendar looked" -- as if the answer might be anything but, "uh... calendar? I mean, yeah, I'm just putting covers on TPS reports here in my cube. All day today. And, uh, tomorrow. And the day after that. So I'm wiiiiiiiiiiide open" -- made us feel important.)

Then, she came and sat right down with you at your desk, and asked you to walk her through your job description. She'd ask pertinent, interested questions, and ask you to share your thoughts on your processes and challenges.

Afterward, she followed up with a "thanks for your time" email with her v-card attached.

After those meetings were all done, there was easily a month-long stretch of water-cooler vibe of "Wowie wow! Jane is so awesome! She's really going to do great things around here!!!!!"

Eventually we learned she was totally insane, with a faked-up resume, a penchant for ripple at lunch, and hints of dissociative identity disorder....

...but you know, that first month, she really had us all impressed. I've always vowed that if I entered a similar situation as a manager, I would do the desk-meeting thing.
posted by pineapple at 8:31 AM on September 6, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

1. Say thank you early and often. In an email. Better, on paper.

2. Give presents for above and beyond - even $10 at Amazon says 'I care' (be appropriate though - this is kind of an eff off for the guy who worked 80 hours weeks for months)

3. Give the gift of time if you've got no money - we had 3pm days for people who worked hard.

4. Listen lots, both business and personal. Ask after spouses, hobbies, etc.

5. Don't try to be cool, just care.

6. Do not ignore the east coast office. If you bring chocolates for your office, ship some out there. (trust me on this - I know from bitter experience)

7. What pineapple said.

8. Figure out some way to build community, especially if there's no intranet. Backpack and IM go a long way to getting everyone on the same path to common goals.

9. Trust everyone to do a good job until they don't.

10. Write a statement of expectations (both good and bad behavior), even if you think they're obvious. This makes people feel secure about what the boss wants, as well as gives you leverage to weed out bad employees later.

Good luck!
posted by beezy at 2:00 PM on September 6, 2007

BTW- it's lonely at the top. Good bosses are not their employees' buddies, they're leaders and motivators. Good leaders are not always bearers of good news; they just make the bad news make sense, and help everyone move on.

Michael Scott and David Brent are sad little men for a reason. dotcoms were sucky workplaces for a reason.

Act appropriately.
posted by beezy at 2:03 PM on September 6, 2007

Don't change ANYTHING in your first two weeks. Listen, learn, absorb. Let your employees know you have no plans to change anything right away (or that nothing will change until you feel you understand how the office works). Nthing the meetings thing. But frankly, I think you're way ahead of the game inasmuchas you understand that you need to make a good impression on them. I think a lot of new bosses come in with the attitude of "okay, impress ME"
posted by nax at 4:52 PM on September 6, 2007

Wonderful ideas! Thanks, everyone.
posted by neurodoc at 9:26 PM on September 6, 2007