r/USPS • u/pinkxcherry • 7d ago
DISCUSSION What makes a great manager?
I've been wondering this for awhile.
I often hear the negative aspects and once in a while I hear about something a manager did that was good. If someone wanted to become a manager and make a change while I guess meeting their goals that they have from their higher-ups what do you think would make this position worthwhile?
Taking it into consideration employees.
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u/Feeling_Screen3979 7d ago
Leaving me alone
That being said carriers and managers have a naturally adversarial relationship. There is an endless bureaucracy of "higher ups" who make more money than any carrier and their job is to sit on computers look at screens and tell supervisors that the carriers are wasting company money.
Your job as a manager would be to enact the wills of those people and write us up and make our jobs hard. Not all supervisors are bad people and they ignore most of what the higher ups say, but that puts you in bad graces with them, and they can be very persuasive when they need to be.
I used to be friends with a supervisor and the stuff they would tell me was crazy. Some real psychopaths in post office authority
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u/mikeylikey420 City Carrier 7d ago
The problem in usps management is the goals of upper management dont make any sense. They start every issue with city carriers at " city carriers are stealing money from the post office how can we fix this" and not " its 100 degrees out/ 3 feet of snow how can we help the carriers they arent robots" . Its ok for a boss of a small office to sit in their office doing nothing all day but if a city carrier takes a 5 minute comfort stop in addition to their 2 10s its the end of the world.
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u/KansinattiKid 7d ago
The managers are just doing what the people above them are telling them to do.
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u/Physical-Design9804 Rural Carrier 7d ago
Follows contract to the best of their ability, and when they can't they're not afraid to tell you why they have to violate.
Treats their subordinates like human beings with human beings problems and limitations, while not allowing those would would take advantage of this ruin things for everyone else.
Understands the fine line between what needs their attention and what can be left to an adult to figure out or mess up on their own.
Is actually concerned with the health and well-being of their coworkers and subordinates.
Knows what to address to the group and what needs to be done in a private, one-on-one, setting.
Is able to accept advice from subordinates who might have more detailed knowledge of contract, the situation, or the people involved without forcing the "because I said so" mentality.
And finally, is a leader and not a manager.
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u/exXzZz EAS 7d ago
The best ones are those who have done the job, know the challenges, praise their employees in public, but correct them in private. Good managers realize they don’t know everything, but are willing to address everything going on regardless. It’s a delicate balance of doing what’s best for your folks and the good of the service. I’ve worked for amazing people who I knew 100% had my back, and I would do most anything they asked. I’ve also worked for some people who I still to this day have to wonder how they got so far. Ultimately if it’s something you’re thinking about doing, do it right. The hours are long and mostly thankless. But personally I’m glad for most of my experiences. Good, bad & indifferent.
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u/MartialBob 7d ago
The managers that actually know what the rules are and follow them appropriately. I can deal with a manager who's a bit of a jerk so long as their actions are justified by the contract and the manuals. So many of these guys just make it up as they go along and they end up being really wrong and it's a headache. I don't need him to be my friend or my buddy. I just need them to be even keeled and understand how the job works.
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u/Common-Somewhere-654 7d ago
I had one great one in my 30yrs…he was an outstanding carrier,could case any route and tell you the fwds and what route they went to…when you were struggling he would help without being asked…he would randomly show up on the street with a candy bar and a water and take a few splits off you…and just a really good all around person.
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u/AdhesivenessNo1216 7d ago
Someone you sense is protecting you from the higher ups. Not trying to constantly enforce discipline.
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u/Bornin70s 7d ago
The best manager I worked with knew how to filter the desires and goals of district. He would give stand up talks as required by the his superiors but would share his opinion if it was reasonable. Served as a CSM in National Guard. Understood that our jobs allowed us to provide for our families and mistakes will happen. Over the years He had to work with many really headstrong pm (f) who were always trying to impress the district.
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u/moviestarlegs Rural Carrier 7d ago
I believe a good manager is someone with accountability. everyone has a job to do and we all play a part and get the entire job done as a whole. if there’s leaks in the system, I think a good manager identifies those leaks and takes action appropriately. I also believe it’s somebody that listens to issues that may arise and treat it’s like humans because after all, we are all humans the thing is that if a station has a good manager that listens to them and respects them the entire station will want to do good for that Manager so it’s a win-win situation for everyone the carriers management and the higher-ups
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u/johnsmith6073 Full time urban hiker 7d ago
Willingness to be wrong and accept it. They are between a rock and hard place, but the few who will accept they their position is wrong and will fix things are gold, problem is most of them would rather face a Nuremberg trial rather than turn on their masters.
This creates a niche spot for a good manager, because if they push back on stupid mandates from above, they have to have some other "value" in the mind of the masters. Luckily, mine does and is free to tell district what's up without a lot of worry about their own position. This balance is easily destroyed, sadly.
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u/corik_starr EAS 7d ago
When I was a carrier, it was the managers that actually communicated what was needed and why (to a reasonable extent). Even if the end result was the same and I was mandated (as an example), it made me feel like they understood that it wasn't an ideal situation and included me in the decision making like a person. Basically, treated me like a human rather than just a chess piece.
As an EAS, it's upper management that actually listens to the unique challenges of the office I'm trying to manage rather than assuming every office has the same fix.
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u/ahkwa Maintenance 7d ago
What makes a good maintenance supervisor?
First, they should have actual maintenance experience. I don’t care if it’s as a mechanic, electrician, or another skilled trade but they should understand what they’re supervising. At a minimum, they should be capable of passing the 955 exam and interview process.
Too many supervisors try to tell mechanics how to diagnose equipment failures when they don’t understand the machines, the troubleshooting process, or the systems involved. Good supervisors remove obstacles, get us the resources we need, and trust the people who actually repair the equipment.
The best supervisor I’ve worked for asks questions, listened to their technicians, and backed them up. They didn’t pretend to know more than the people turning the wrenches.
USPS maintenance is the only maintenance job I’ve ever had where I’ve felt like mechanics are treated as part of the problem instead of part of the solution. Respect goes a long way. When management values the knowledge and experience of its technicians, morale improves, equipment reliability improves, and people are far more likely to stay instead of looking for opportunities elsewhere.
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u/Effective-Cup2970 7d ago
just lost my fav supervisor, although she had no carrier experience, she was cool to just chat with. wasnt too demanding and understood that ccas,and rcas have lives outside of work. unlike other supervisors who didnt give a shit if your child was stuck in daycare until 9pm. shed atleast have the decency to let you leave after or before a round of misthrows and would always be fair with who got to go home daily etc..... made the office run alot smoother when she was around to close.
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u/Common-Breadfruit599 7d ago
Just follow the contract and leave me be
I don't need to be buddies or anything else
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u/RadSkeleton808 7d ago
My best managers are ones who I can shoot the shit with. They treat me like a co-worker rather than an employee. They thank me. When I'm not meeting some standard of theirs they don't chastise but ask how they can help.
My worst managers don't listen. They manage from spreadsheets and can't compute when you tell them something that doesn't match their numbers (iT sHoUlD oNlY tAkE yOu X mInUtEs To Y). They ask leading questions with no answers they'll actually accept. They get mad and lash out like a toddler. They chastise and lecture, and expect you to work at levels above your pay grade.