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The Desire to Manage is the First Step
04/17/09
So you think you can manage?
If your answer is yes, then you've already taken the first step toward achieving the goal, according to Lara Konick-Mann, director of merchandising and marketing, University Book Store, University of Washington, Seattle. That was the message Konick-Mann delivered during her So You Think You Can Manage education session at CAMEX 2009.
"Wherever you are in your career in your store, you are headed in the right direction," she told attendees. "It's just a matter of looking for that next opportunity. Start seeing yourself in the next position."
Even if manager isn't exactly the position you have in mind.
"Not everybody can or wants to be a store manager, but even if you want to be a cashier supervisor, especially in this competitive job market, you have to show you know how to learn and that you are a smart person," Konick-Mann said.
College stores normally require applicants to have a bachelor's degree to be considered for a management position, although not necessarily a business degree. Some stores will also accept nondegreed applicants with retail experience.
Konick-Mann was an English major and a substitute teacher who started in a bookstore as a part-time cashier. Discovering that she liked working in the industry more than teaching, Konick-Mann became a sales representative for J.A. Majors, Lewisville, TX, a job that led to a number of positions at different times at the University of Washington, Seattle. She's also managed the Southern Oregon University Bookstore, Ashland, and the Western Oregon University Bookstore, Monmouth. Along the way, she's figured out many of the things it takes to keep moving up the career ladder.
"See yourself in the manager's role every day and in every way," Konick-Mann said. "That will help you get that mindset, but don't be bossy. Managers aren't bossy."
So what to managers really do?
"In the minds of many people, managers go to meetings, managers go to lunch, managers are on their e-mail all the time, and are on the phone all the time, which are all very true," Konick-Mann said with a chuckle.
It's a bit more than that, of course. There are budgets and financial reports to prepare, inventory to manage, employees to direct, all the while keeping the operation running smoothly and at a profitable pace. Understanding all of those skills is vital to moving up in your store.
"One of the true strengths of a good manager is being able to be flexible and going with the flow," Konick-Mann said. "The more you know, the better off you will be."
Asking may be the best way to get that knowledge. Konick-Mann has found college store managers to be very generous with their time and talent when they find an employee interested in learning.
"I would love it if my employees said to me, 'I want to get more involved. I want to learn more,'" she said. "This is an industry that is very supportive. We're not competitive with each other because every job in a bookstore is so important you can't afford to be competitive.
"Even if it's a matter of going to your book buyer and asking if you can sit with them; they will be happy to help and you will learn," Konick-Mann said. "Make yourself available to other departments because there are all sorts of opportunities out there. Think about what college students do to learn a new job. They are all over the place looking for internships, and companies love it.
Developing a mentor is helpful, but being helpful to that mentor makes a difference as well. Don't be afraid to take on assignments or to attend meetings to gain more understanding and experience. Above all else, get involved in your campus community.
"And I challenge everyone to go back and get on a campus committee. Get involved on your campus. That's where your boss and your boss's boss are every day. The bookstore is a small part of what they do."
Then there's dealing with personnel. Managers are responsible for hiring, training, and sometimes firing employees. At the same time, managers must set a positive tone for the workplace.
"Think like you're the manager, but work like you're not," she said. "Have the mindset of a manager but be able to do everything, and do it gladly because you are setting the example for everyone else. It's very important to show you are not above anyone."
Knowledge about the store, how it operates, and its mission are all important to advancement. But customer service will always be No. 1.
"Underline the words 'customer service,'" Konick-Mann said. "No matter what your job is, that is going to be one of the top responsibilities as a manager. Your knowledge, your confidence, and your abilities will help you deal with any situation that comes up.
"Think about how leadership and management move throughout your life and how do you respond to pressure. These are some of the things you need to think about before you become a manager because you are the one going to be in the center of the burner when the heat gets turned up, and you've got to be sure you are comfortable with that."
So learn everything you can about your store, the department you work in, and your school. Figure out what it takes to deal with personnel and customers. Then, yes, you, too, can manage.
—Dan Angelo
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