AIM - Aiming Into Management

[59 Dano]

God? That's just about how highly regarded this man was. You see. it's called integrity. A character quality you will unfortunately never come to know.

LOL.

 

[bacha29]

LOL.

Laughing in the face of fact and reality is a clear sign of someone who has also made numerous trips to the Fedex Mind Control and Reeducation Academy. Perhaps too many.

 

[59 Dano]

Laughing in the face of fact and reality

I was laughing at your rambling pointless anecdote.

is a clear sign of someone who has also made numerous trips to the Fedex Mind Control and Reeducation Academy. Perhaps too many.

Invitation only, pal. Gotta have a mind and an education, so I wouldn't get my hopes up if I were you.

 

[bacha29]

I was laughing at your rambling pointless anecdote.



Invitation only, pal. Gotta have a mind and an education, so I wouldn't get my hopes up if I were you.

If that's what it take to go to the academy then how do you explain your having been afforded the opportunity to go? Perhaps you were given credit for the time you spent in the dementia ward at the state hospital?

 

[!Retired!]

My biggest issue with the way FedEx allows couriers to move up is sometimes they let it happen to soon. The best managers I've had were the ones that started as couriers. My 3rd manager was only with the company a year before taking over our workgroup. He could almost quote the policy manual, but had no clue about what it takes to be a good courier or what it takes to run a route. I looked him up a while ago. He's now a SM.

I started the ASPIRE program, at my then managers suggestion, when I was only with the company for 6 months. Unfortunately(?), I could not finish the program due to my grandmother getting sick. Seeing what the managers go through nowadays, I'm glad I'm still a courier.

 

[Serf]

I've seen couriers in the ASPIRE program for awhile. What it equates to is them taking unpaid workshops at the airport on Saturday. Followed by doing the managers admin work (also on weekends) with the slim chance of actually being accepted into management.
I was asked by management if I was interested in the opportunity. But completely put off by the arbitrary process it took to become management. In addition to our new senior bringing 2 of her "pets" from old station into management. One was so overwhelmed I saw him breathing in a brown paper bag, panic attack style. Also has the grammar and spelling of a 2nd grader.
However, they did get a 15% raise last year...

 

[vantexan]

Wait'll you manage a group of people with that attitude!



You'll make a difference if you're dealing with decent people. Some are always going to give an honest effort and some are incorrigible. Don't waste your time on the latter, and use the former to help you with all those who are in between.

You make mgrs sound noble. Some truly are, most aren't in my experience. And it's not difficult to tell the difference. They're in a system that demands results or you're gone. The old adage about what rolls downhill truly applies. The stress they're under comes out in very nasty ways at times. I've known mgrs I'd go to war for. But too many have the attitude "how's this going to affect me?" A major reason I transferred so much. When a mgr screwed me over or treated me like crap the only real power I had was to transfer. And I admit I took real satisfaction in knowing that having to get that very heavy rt covered was going to cause him major headaches. These guys don't appreciate what they had until they realize just how it will affect them.

 

[Purplepackage]

Do you need a degree to go into management these days?

I remember when all you needed was to complete aspire and be willing to move wherever the job was, who needs a degree to harass couriers all day

 

[!Retired!]

You make mgrs sound noble. Some truly are, most aren't in my experience.

I'm currently on my 9th manager (yes, I remember all of them). Only 2 of them I wish never said a word to me and let me do my job. 1 other became an ass when I went to another work group where he did not get along with my new manager. Always has little digs to make.

 

[59 Dano]

My biggest issue with the way FedEx allows couriers to move up is sometimes they let it happen to soon. The best managers I've had were the ones that started as couriers. My 3rd manager was only with the company a year before taking over our workgroup. He could almost quote the policy manual, but had no clue about what it takes to be a good courier or what it takes to run a route. I looked him up a while ago. He's now a SM.

There's a popular misconception that only a good courier can be a good manager of couriers. Experience as a courier helps some, but nowhere near as much as people think. You'd be amazed at how many great couriers flame out as managers. There's a world of difference going from a job where all you have to worry about is setting up and running your one route well and being responsible for 25 other couriers, many of whom will never care if they are ever half the courier you were.

 

[59 Dano]

You make mgrs sound noble.

Nope.

 

[Star B]

There's a world of difference going from a job where all you have to worry about is setting up and running your one route well and being responsible for 25 other couriers, many of whom will never care if they are ever half the courier you were.

I respect someone who has been in my shoes and has had their feet to the fire. How would the Army/Navy work if Generals were hired off the street? Nobody would respect them more than required to by the code.

The reason you transferred so much is because you are a total tool and wore out your welcome.

Nah, sounds legit. I know people who have transferred around at a whim because of managerial flack. Some people are just more flexible to stick to their morals and leave vs stewing inside until they pop a cork.

 

[Oldfart]

I respect someone who has been in my shoes and has had their feet to the fire. How would the Army/Navy work if Generals were hired off the street? Nobody would respect them more than required to by the code.


Nah, sounds legit. I know people who have transferred around at a whim because of managerial flack. Some people are just more flexible to stick to their morals and leave vs stewing inside until they pop a cork.

I have worked for plenty of bad managers. There is no way I am gonna uproot my life and family because some manager doesn't have a clue how to do his job. I was there before the manager was, I will be there when he leaves. Transferring because of a bad manager seems a little extreme to me. It is a job, you punch in, do it, go home. Sure not gonna move away to get away from a manager.

 

[vantexan]

I have worked for plenty of bad managers. There is no way I am gonna uproot my life and family because some manager doesn't have a clue how to do his job. I was there before the manager was, I will be there when he leaves. Transferring because of a bad manager seems a little extreme to me. It is a job, you punch in, do it, go home. Sure not gonna move away to get away from a manager.

If I qualify to have pay reinstated when rehired, mgr says he'll look into it, and doesn't, then tells me I don't qualify, I will transfer on him for the financial hardship he caused me. If I spend $1300 to move, having mgr tell me, and another courier, that we'll start early and get off reasonably early, then get told we'll be midday rts working reload every night first day there, I'll transfer when I can. If I get told what a rt is, sign offer letter, and then find out it's a 4X10 cover, which wasn't in posting notes or offer letter, and told I'll have to stay another year before being eligible to apply again if I withdraw, I'll leave that situation as soon as possible. If I'm lied to about the actual location of an opening because courier of rt they desperately need to cover beat me out for their other location, and it's by far the worst rt I've ever seen, an absolutely insane rt, better believe I'm going to leave as soon as possible. Better believe that $25hr wouldn't have been enough for what they were demanding, and broke it up hiring a PTer to help after I transferred. But I handled it and quite a few other heavy rts, and all those mgrs you claimed hated me begged me to stay. I just won't work for people who screwed me over like that. Had no choice to stay with company, but their mgrs got what they deserved from the little tiny bit of power I had, the power to leave.

And you were just telling people they didn't know what they were talking about, and yet you claim to know me and my history. You can't admit the company did a lot of us wrong, and will attack and try to discredit anyone who criticizes it. So when it comes to tools, you are one of the company's biggest. You must be proud. Now cry me a river about how I'm this or that.

 

[vantexan]

Nope.

Yup.

 

[Maui]

There's a popular misconception that only a good courier can be a good manager of couriers. Experience as a courier helps some, but nowhere near as much as people think. You'd be amazed at how many great couriers flame out as managers. There's a world of difference going from a job where all you have to worry about is setting up and running your one route well and being responsible for 25 other couriers, many of whom will never care if they are ever half the courier you were.

You're right. I've had 7 managers and worked with many others. Best manager I've had, by far, was never a courier.

 

[PSP]

Do you need a degree to go into management these days?

I remember when all you needed was to complete aspire and be willing to move wherever the job was, who needs a degree to harass couriers all day

What if I told you my degree gives me an advantage for hireability over the next guy applying? Because after all, being able to drive a W900 and attending FedEx University might not impress another company. Lol.

 

[PSP]

I appreciate all the feedback everyone, good and bad. It's a pleasure to see some of the veterans chiming in, and the people who rate a low SFA score every year.

 

[McFeely]

I started the ASPIRE program, at my then managers suggestion, when I was only with the company for 6 months. Unfortunately(?), I could not finish the program due to my grandmother getting sick. Seeing what the managers go through nowadays, I'm glad I'm still a courier.

Having been in management in my previous career and seeing what ops managers deal with from above, there is no way in hell I'd want to be in any management for this company. Sure, there are some crappy couriers that make management difficult. But from what I see, their seniors and directors, etc. are what truly makes their lives hell. Being hounded about numbers and productivity when there really are so many things out of their control must just suck balls. And not in a nice tea-bagging sort of way of sucking balls.

Money is nice, but it ain't everything. I'll stick to courier-ing and enjoying the perks on my route

 

[Fred's Myth]

Once upon a time, the different parts of the body were arguing over who should be "Boss".
Said the Brain, "I already process information and make decisions, naturally I should be boss."
Said the Eyes, "If not for me, you couldn't see food, danger, etc., so I should be boss."
Said the Legs, "You would all be worthless if I didn't carry you everywhere, so I should be boss."
Said the Stomach, "If I didn't process food for energy, we would all die, so I should be boss."
Said the Heart, "If I didn't pump blood to each of you, you wouldn't function, so I should be boss."
Then a little voice spoke up, "I think I should be Boss."
It was the anus.
Silence, then a deafening roar as the rest of the Body erupted in laughter!
Angered by their response, the Anus clenched itself shut. The Brain became foggy, the Eyes were watering, the Legs became weak, the Stomach was nauseous, and the Heart started fluttering.
Soon, they all agreed. Anus should be the Boss!
Which only goes to show; You don't need intelligence (brains), vision (eyes), strength (legs), fortitude (stomach), or compassion (heart) to be the Boss.
You only need to be an A**HOLE.