I saw a preview clip about an episode of Oprah where bosses took on employee's tasks; so I'm curious and this is a two-part poll.

First Part - Managers, what score do you think your owner/boss/regional manager would earn if they took over your position for one day and you were scoring them?

Second Part - Owner/boss/RM, do you have the skill sets to cut the mustard at your own company's front desk? If so, how would you score yourself if roles were reversed?

Your votes are anonymous and you can only select one answer.

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Gina 6k
CochraneStorage dot com
Morgan Hill, California
You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough!

As Erma Bombeck wrote, the grass is always greener over the septic tank. Sometimes, be careful what you wish for and all those other cliches. Being good at one job does not instantly translate into being good in another - just look at all the actors who try to sing and vice-versa, or Michael Jordan in baseball.

Interesting while Oprah and one of the networks are going the boss-turned-employee approach, no one considers the other. How would the employee fare in dealing with a parade of meetings, deciding which sales calls to make, putting out fires in the customer base, personnel management and related issues, the 60-hour work week, your BlackBerry going off at night and on weekends, etc.

Can we just stipulate that both roles present their challenges and require specific skill sets for success. Not everyone is ideally suited to fill each job and if people look at their own work histories, we can make a good case that most people are not. Be honest, there were some jobs in which you performed much better.

Gina - Great poll question - if only we could find out how many owners will vote? Look forward to seeing you on Vegas at teh EXPO.

MisterJim444

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Learning Never Ends, But Will Time?

My boss(s) would score pretty good. I would say 80-90%. They are very in tune with all that we do including the day to day operations. They also come around on a regular basis , roll up there sleeves and really work their Bu#!s off at the properties they own . So they are not afraid of taking on the task at hand. They also know their way around our soft ware etc. Yep, for sure an A .

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Lovin it.

I have to agree w/Sandra. My district manager fills in at different sites and started out as a manager.

I've always liked a boss who wouldn't ask you to do something they wouldn't do themselves!!

Pat
Jamestown, NC

Owner and area manager are different situations. Owners have not done what I do, nor have I done what they do. They would try, but....... I had a conversation one day with one of the ex-owners of U-Store-It, and told told me that he probably could take payments and do a lease, but it would take me weeks to fix what he had done. Probably, correct.

Area manager, on the other hand, covers stores on a regular basis. he has a good head on his shoulders, and does a pretty good job.

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Bob Taylor (Astro)
Blue Ridge Self Storage
Cashiers, NC

Well, hopefully the owners vote in the bottom three options... and then we could get a feel for it. I watched that Oprah episode late last night. It was a preview of a new tv show titled "Undercover Boss" and it was amazing! The first episode airs after the Super Bowl and if you can take a peek. The stories they showed were heart-warming and made my eyes tear up a bit.

I know I would NOT like to be in all of the corporate meetings my bosses have! Been there, done that in another life experience. On the other hand, only one of the partners here might attempt to sit at the front desk for a day. The others are of the lead, follow or get out of the way types. So I would have to select "That's why they hired me."

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Gina 6k
CochraneStorage dot com
Morgan Hill, California
You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough!

Well, I guess I critique myself in both areas. I am the owner and manager of our facility. I dealt with every aspect of getting the dirt work done, dealing with getting the driveway in (which I had to get out with the chain saw and clear the other side of the highway right-of-way), and getting the buildings built. Then I went through all that a person needs to know about running the facility. Yes, I have had to 'redo' all my mistakes.....but I think I do a pretty good job in all aspects. I just lately wrote my "Written Standard Operatiing Procedure" booklet - just in case I need someone in the future to take over the management part for me.

I have learned a lot from this forum and others, and I really appreciate everyone's input on all these subjects. You all have taught me things that I may never have learned.

Thanks from a Owner/Operator

I asked Pa if he wanted to critique me (since he is owner also and I do all the paper work now) he said he wouldn't walk into that wood shed
As for my critique on him....well, at least he leaves it up to me and doesn't try and undo what I have done.

Ma_Nic, nice to see you back again! Thanks for the wonderful post. I have to say you've got yourself one smart man there, I love the line about him not walking into that woodshed.

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Gina 6k
CochraneStorage dot com
Morgan Hill, California
You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough!

Great Poll Gina and I am very anxious to see that Undercover Boss Show. My boss has his role which I would never even think of taking on, and I have mine. It works splendidly. He is a wealth of information and has taught me a lot. It's my job to keep it detailed on the store front! His job to pay the bills and keep the projects coming! I do anything I can to help my owners and take pressure off.

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MusicCity Gal