By Joy Ehonwa
1. You don’t respect them
What? I’m the boss, they should respect me! No sir, respect is reciprocal. You can’t treat employees shabbily, saying “there are many graduates out there who need jobs, so if you don’t want to work, resign!” and expect them to be enamoured with you. Name-calling is also a big no-no. The fact is, you’re not doing them a favour; they are rendering a service you need, for which they get paid. You should respect them as human beings. If you fail to do this, no matter how much they defer to your professional authority, morale will be low and their performance will be subpar.
2. You don’t know what you are doing
A good boss is a leader and a mentor of sorts. A boss who knows his onions is the one his employees/subordinates will look up to and respect. If you climbed up the ladder by means other than hard work and genuine commitment, chances are you didn’t learn many aspects of the job a person in your position should have mastered. When your staffers continually have to clean up after you and suffer the consequences of your incompetence, it is only natural that they will grow to dislike you.
3. You don’t really care about them
This is not about getting chummy or exhibiting unprofessional behaviour. Bosses who show genuine concern for the health and wellbeing of their staff find themselves with people who are willing to go the extra mile for them, and gladly overlook their shortcomings. If you neither care that Jack is feeling poorly, nor consider how far Jill’s home is from the office when you’re asking her to work late, you really can’t be shocked that you’re hated.
4. You always want to pay the least you can get away with
You are blessed to have creative, hardworking staff, and instead of rewarding them with rich remuneration, you pay them just enough to keep them working. You delay raises, and then when you finally get round to it, you scoop up a handful of money and splash it atop their current pay packet like a market woman selling cups of rice. You will be the loser in the end. Do you want to find yourself with an excellent employee who is constantly searching for a better job? Soon, someone else will recognise their worth and they will be gone in a flash. Until then, be aware that their feelings towards you are anything but warm.
5. Your door is always closed
One of the perks of working under a seasoned professional is the opportunity to learn and grow. You may be the best in the industry, but if your doors aren’t open, literally and figuratively, your employees will benefit little from your expertise. Being accessible goes a long way. Bosses who are on hand to access employees’ performance, give constructive feedback and offer a piece of advice or two are not just respected; they are loved by employees who will bend over backwards to please them. Bosses who are stingy with their time, energy and attention should expect indifference at best, and thinly veiled animosity at worst.
So there you have it! Make 2013 a different year for you and your staff.
Joy Ehonwa is an editor and a writer who is passionate about relationships and personal development. She runs Pinpoint Creatives, a proofreading, editing, transcription and ghostwriting service.
Email: pinpointcreatives [at] yahoo.com
In today’s ever-changing global economy, businesses must prepare for uncertainties, especially economic downturns. Navigating tough times successfully requires strategic thinking, adaptability, and a proactive approach. Here’s how businesses can maintain resilience and stability during economic downturns. Read more about Business 1. Prioritize Cash Flow Management Revisit Your Budget: Conduct a comprehensive review to identify … Continue reading How Businesses Can Stay Resilient in Economic Downturns
Agro consultancy firms like Agric Economy Consultancy provide essential guidance for both new and established ventures. They offer tailored insights and expert strategies to help clients navigate the complexities of starting and managing agricultural businesses, enabling them to make informed decisions that drive profitability and growth. Read more about Business At the heart of … Continue reading How Agric Economy Consultancy Helps Agric Businesses Start and Scale in Nigeria
Easyfix is a company that specializes in repairs of high-end phones such as Apple iPhone 14, 13, 12, 11, X, Samsung Galaxy S23, S22, S21, S20, Tablets and iPad. Easyfix has spent over a decade helping customers restore their devices with speed, professionalism, and a customer-centred approach. Known for their efficiency, Easyfix aims to … Continue reading Looking for Where to Fix Your Broken Smartphone Screen? Try Out Easyfix
Growing a business is very exciting, but it can also be exhausting, especially when you’re trying to do everything yourself. For many entrepreneurs, the mindset of “I’ll do it myself” can be both a strength and a weakness. But here’s the truth, without proper delegation, you’ll likely face burnout before your business can truly … Continue reading The Art of Delegating: How You Can Scale Your Business Without Burning Out