How do I blend in?

Question

I am supervising a retail store where I feel pulled in all directions every day by employees. I’m trying to change their work habits because they have been trained incorrectly and the result is sales decline. My job is to fix that.I’m met with defiance because they have been allowed/trained  to work this way. They report me to upper management and I’m walking on eggshells.  I need help with a strategy to help them work correctly. I’m spending so much time reporting (to defend myself), doing others jobs, and correcting, that my additional responsibilities aren’t being met. The other manager has begun playing into the drama as well with the more senior employees because those employees have earned the respect of the company. I’m not there to make friends but I don’t want them to hate me either.

Maggie B · Answer

Document, document, document. That sounds like an awful situation.
Do you have anything from Corporate that says 'hey we're sending you to shape these folks up?' Maybe it's time to level with them and set some concrete goals and expectations if the goals are not met.  In my experience, if a sales team doesn't have a negative consequence for not meeting their goals, there's really no reason to meet them.  Sounds to me like it's time to thin the herd there, and if you are not empowered by your corporate structure to do that, then it's time to move on.

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks so much!This is helpful advice

Jemia Williams · Answer

Maggie said it best! Document. There is not a better way to hold people accountable and to protect yourself than to document every and any conversation as it relates to performance at work. Defending yourself at work is exhausting, but if you have the correct documentation then the work should speak for itself.

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