Planning

a) Keep talking to the people actually doing the job.
b) Keep a list of tasks, do the urgent ones...you will be surprized how many tasks don't actually need doing.
c) Learn to delegate..you will soon find out who is reliable, praise them and shun the others.
d) Be honest at all times, it will save much more trouble than it causes.
e) Keep up with the industry magazines/engineeing journals.
f) Be nice to cats

Del

I agree with the Cat. I'm a department leader for an aerospace forging company. The very hardest part of my job is dealing with the people, both up and down.

1) Management will give you unreasonable expectations everyday.

2) Always have a clear and concise answer for them, detail your problems, but never whine.

3) Getting management to spend money on the things you need is always a challenge. Tie this in with point #1.

4) Labor is probably the hardest part. Always have an open door policy. If you say your going to do something, then do it.

5) Take care of your workers. They can make you look good or bad. If a worker comes to you with a personal problem, as my kid is sick, and I must leave, tell him, yes, your family comes first. Excuse him, with no negative repercussions. This man will work harder for you and will give you his loyalty. This is a fine line, however, you don't want to get walked all over.

6) Don't tolerate under performers.

7) I don't have to deal with customers, so I can't help you there.

Good luck!

Best advice I ever got (from a former boss, mentor, and still a friend) is this: "Rudolph takes care of those who take care of Rudolph."

Substitute the name 'Jinachandran' for 'Rudolph', and use this as your mantra, your daily affirmation. And live up to the promise within it. It will become second nature, and it will create your reputation. Your people will understand and respect it, it's simple, direct, easy to remember, and effective. Helps you keep those you can count on reliable, helps you disregard the dead wood as much as possible.

Try this, http://www.amazon.com/One-Minute-Manager-Kenneth-Blanchard/dp/0688014291

But remember advice is not a take it or leave it proposition. Judge each idea on it's own merits because a fool can have a good idea and a genius can make mistakes.

I did find this let me handle many issues quicker and with less bad feelings.

Another good book but long and boring is Power Base. I haven't been able to find a copy, borrowed one, but it covers business politics of the grapevine of which I was very dense.

Brad

I agree with Del except (f) should be off-topic.

Remember to stress the importance of being honest, if you do not know something ask the workers who do know it. Don't try to blow smoke up thier butt, they know better.

I would like to add what others have suggested as under:- 1) For getting any money sanctioned from Management you have to make proposal in such a way that how much is return in monetory terms for every penny spent. 2) Dealing with labour in India is big task as there are union protection.Work is done as per classification any new job needs union approval and fixation of new norms. Here you have to act diplomaticaly. Ofcourse if you care for their geniune grivences they will respect you. 3) I dont know what for you have to deal with customers?. Normaly it is job of marketing personel. If it is about deliveries then you should commit honest delivery dates if you give them shorter delivery dates and if you cant keep it up with your promises then you loose your creditablity. You have to treat customers as kings.

"...what for you have to deal with customers?..."

This depends on the nature of the project. Often, engineering staff will barely know who the customer is, much less interact with them. However, there are times when the customer or owner will want to discuss details, changes, even contract modifications, that only an engineer can be qualified to contribute to - no marketing personnel invited to the meeting - and will have all of the input.

But when the customer finds a contact in engineer he feels comfortable with, chances are, he'll circumvent channels and use that as a goto guy.