I work as a shift manager at a supermarket. In this role, I often apply psychological principles I learnt as an undergraduate.

When I am managing a shift, I depend heavily on my colleagues. I want them to complete the tasks I assign them quickly and thoroughly. I set a model for them by being a fast and diligent worker myself.

I set clear and reasonable goals for the workers, and I provide positive reinforcement when they meet these goals. I look for opportunities to provide specific and timely praise (e.g., “thanks for tidying the warehouse; it’s so much easier to move around in here and find things now that it’s tidy”).

Being a manager can be stressful. Sometimes things happen that are outside my control, but one thing I can control is how I interact with my colleagues. One of my main priorities is to maintain good rapport with my colleagues.  Maintaining good relations with my colleagues increases their motivation to come to work and perform their job to the best of their ability and makes the workplace more pleasant for everyone.