Human Resources by Myila Young //

Myila Young is sales/ personnel director at Christian Supply (Spartanburg, SC). She’s worked there since 1998, previously holding positions

of floater, head cashier, sales floor supervisor, and consumer music buyer. She has a B.S. in psychology from Wofford College.

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A PARENTING BOOK PROVIDES INSIGHT ON

STAFF MANAGEMENT.

PARENTING AND MANAGING?

the people and situations I face. I try to glean information from whatever credible sources I find. I recently came across a book titled Be the Parent by Kendra Smiley (Moody). Initially, I didn’t think the book would help me with managing people, seeing as it was a book on parenting. However, it provided valuable insight and principles for both parenting and managing people.

“If any man lacks wisdom he should ask

God who gives to all generously and without

criticizing and it will be given to him.” (James

1: 5, HCB)

In life and work, I’ve discovered that it’s ben-

eficial for me to remain teachable and to allow

many sources to be my instructors. I’m confi-

dent that it would be very difficult for me to

perform my duties as HR/personnel manager

if I wasn’t always seeking, listening, and researching information and techniques to help me improve in my profession.

People often ask me why I enjoy working in human resources. Almost weekly I hear comments like, “I’m so glad I don’t have your job,” “Better you than me,” and “I don’t see how you do this.” My response is often the same: “I don’t know how I do it either.” I attempt to equip myself by reading information on leadership, managing people, personnel do’s and don’ts. I subscribe to several HR newsletters that provide up-to-date

changes in laws and give practical advice on how to handle difficult personnel situations. Nevertheless, no matter how many books I read or seminars I attend, I’ve concluded that because human resource management deals with humans and each human is unique and different, there’s no cookie-cutter method that’s going to work for all situations one may face as a HR manager.

Some things I learn from books, seminars, and others in the profession can’t be adopted automatically into my practices; however, I make every attempt to adapt what I learn to

CHOOSE TO BE A ROLE MODEL

After reading the book, I was amazed at the correlations between parenting and managing people. There were two chapters that particularly piqued my interest.

The chapter “Choose to be a Role Model” provided me with valuable reminders about managing people. In it, Smiley gives action steps to parents to help them remember their assignment as role models in their children’s lives. These steps are worthy of consideration for managers to adapt into their management styles. According to Smiley, parents should:

1. Know that, for better or worse, you are a role model.

2. Take the challenge to model the best.

3. Discover that modeling is what you say and do.

4.Let this knowledge influence your behavior.

5. Remember it’s not all about you.

I think these are great reminders to those who manage people as well. Managers are role models whether they desire to be one or not. Those you supervise are constantly looking to you to ascertain what’s acceptable and what’s not. Like parents, once managers accept this challenge of being a role model, they must realize that not only what they say is important but also what they do. Most manag-

8 CBA Retailers+Resources | 03.09

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