r/labrats • u/Florida_Shine • 2d ago

New lab manager seeking any advice!

Hello!!

What is your best advice for a new lab manager? What are some mistakes you made and leaned from? Any advise for supervising technicians?

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u/sciencevertigo 2d ago

From experience, the best lab manager I ever had (and best manager in general) was very emotionally intelligent and empathetic. She looked at all of us like we were humans first (this should be the standard but isn't). She anticipated mistakes would be made, and always made sure to follow the rules for fixing said mistakes, but never made us feel stupid for messing up. She would defend us if the PI ever got too pushy, too, and always had our backs.

At one point I was really struggling and feeling like I didn't belong and wasn't good enough, and she left a sticky note under my keyboard that said "You belong here." I cried all through my lunch when I found it.

Bottom line, she paid attention to us, but not just the employee side.

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u/Florida_Shine 1d ago

I love this, thank you! I scheduled one on one meetings with the people I'll be directly supervising to get some input on what they like about the department and if they have any suggestions for Improvement. I was wondering if I was supposed to act as a liaison and that answered my question.