Tips for Distillery Managers

There is an inherent level of passion found in people working at all levels of a distillery. Here's several tips for distillery managers to take into consideration for the success of their operations.

Hire the Right People

You need to hire people who are good at their job, of course. They must be trustworthy and have other traits that are important to you. That could be efficient, hard-working, strong, on time, and so on. But there is one component that is often overlooked. You need to make sure that the people you hire also believe in you and the brand. There will be times when you ask workers to do things they may not agree with or perhaps you have to convince them to go along with an unpopular change. Employees who trust their leadership team makes navigating these issues a lot easier.

Time Management

There will never be enough time in the day to do everything that you need to do, so the only option left is to do what you can. Developing good time management skills will allow you to get the most out of your day. There's many different time management tools out there. Some suggest making lists, setting reminders on your phone, having a mapped out timeline of tasks. Use whatever it is that makes you the most effective - it'll  greatly reduce your general stress level.

Take Advantage of New Technology

In an industry that still uses the same techniques and practices people used a couple of hundred years ago, it’s easy to fall into the trap of ignoring anything new and shiny – especially if it beeps at you. Social media and online marketing have created new channels that companies should explore to stay relevant. Other innovations like distillery management software can make operations ten times more efficient than keeping track of everything with excel spreadsheets and Quickbooks. 

Lead by Example

How you act and work as the manager is going to be how the people under you will perform and work. You set the tone. If you show your employees you aren't afraid of getting your hands dirty and helping out when they need your support, you'll gain their respect.

Distillery managers have all the power to make the floor a great or terrible place to work. Managers that take advantage of new tech, develop good time management skills, and earn the trust of their employees will be more successful. The more fun and productive your operation is, the more that will reflect in your sales.