How to make yourself a good department manager?

I joined this company (sales and marketing department in a electronics factory) as Sales and Marketing department manager. Since this is my first job to be a department manager and I didn't study business management (I was major in liberal arts), I worked very hard. However, I don't know how I can make my staff respect me from their hearts and work their best in their job so that the whole department can show obvious improvement. Today, 2 staff had big argument in front of me and I yelled at both of them to stop arguing in public and if they want to argue, please go to a conference room. I think I made a bad judgement by yelling at them like that. Also, Do you think they do not respect me? Please help!

Some things I can think of off the top of my head:

- Don't be afraid to roll your sleeves up and lend a hand when things get busy.

- Make it clear to them your not going to let them walk all over you, but try to avoid yelling.... perhaps try diffuse it with a little humour (e.g. "put the handbags away gentlemen").

- Listen to what ALL the staff have to say, not just a core group of ones a promotion or two below you... sometimes it's the only way you'll find out about problems with the department (or problems that are brewing up).

- Don't change things for the sake of change.... if the department's way of doing something is working perfectly fine, don't try to change it without thinking it through properly. A common problem with alot of organsiations these days is they try changing things around (such as the way products are distributed, for instance) only to turn things into a complete shambles instead of improving things.

- Don't be afraid to bend the rules slightly occasionally: If someone turns up late, but works hard enough to more than make up for it when they do show up.... let them off, but give them a mild warning about not making a regular habit of it. If they turn up late, but sit around scratching their butt all day then come down on them like a ton of bricks (since that sort of thing usually gets the other staff grumbling a bit, particularly if you let them walk all over you).
And if things are quiet, let them shoot off home a few minutes early.

If anyone is leaving / announced their having a baby / just had a baby / lost a relative / having a birthday / retiring, etc try to be the first in there with arranging a card for everyone to sign / money collection for a gift (if appropriate) / after work party (if appropriate), etc.

Give credit where credit is due.... if one of your staff comes up with a brilliant idea, don't try to take all the glory with the big bosses.

definetly try to keep a cool head, your the boss, if you lose your head so will everyone else. you have to set the example, and if they do not respect you are disobey a rule you have made, strike hard with the discipline. it will take awhile for them to respect you, you are knew, try to stay one step ahead of them. and if two of my employees ever acted like that in front of a customer, i would not have yelled, but i definelty would take some action against them

Your employees will mirror you. If you don't want them to yell and argue, do not model it for them. In order to gain their respect, you will need to build relationships with them; not buddy-buddy relationships though, a relationship where you respect their ideas and them as people. They will begin to trust you and follow you due to more than your title. You should also read some books on leadership. I recommend ones by John C. Maxwell.

I would suggest treating your employees with respect, be honest with them (well as much as your upper management will allow you to be), don't have favorites, reward the hard workers (not those who are trying to suck up to you), if you are wrong or don't know admit it but when you have information come back to your workers and let them know, don't be afraid to pitch in and help if they are short handed and don't take the 'I am management' so I can't do that. Plus check out a good management book at your local bookstore, read some there before purchasing any. I would advice you check out: Every Manager's Desk Reference - ISBN: 0028642686. It was printed 2002 but lots of things are still so current.