After years of being just an employee, you are now a boss. Whether you have been promoted to head of department or you have started your own company, congratulations are in order! Now that you’re going to have people under you, some of whom you will have a hand in recruiting, here are 7 things top executives advise you to keep in mind:
1. Go for the best fit every single time. Don’t let sentiments or nepotism lead you astray. Make sure you hire only the most competent people.
2. Give new employees time to settle in. Sure, there will be some who will hit the ground running, but most will require time to get used to the new job/position, and to get used to you. Be encouraging.
3. Don’t micro-manage your staff. If you hired well (see 1 above) there won’t be any real need to do this. You may be tempted to pitch in and help them out, but you must not give in. Delegate, then trust them and allow them to do their jobs. Give them room to show initiative. This is the only way they can grow. Besides, if you keep hovering over their shoulders you’ll end up overworked and burnt out.
4. Communicate clearly. Let your employees know what you want, how you want it and when. Give clear instructions.
5. You know that nasty thing employers do when they deliberately pit employees against each other? Don’t do it. There are proper ways to encourage healthy competition, if that is your goal. Build a team that works
together.
6. Keep your staff motivated. Words of affirmation, genuine interest in their career growth and sheer kindness all go a long way to keep staff motivated. Still, you must remember that nothing can take the place of proper remuneration. Reward good work with good pay.
7. Don’t be afraid to fire. You are only as strong as your weakest link. It’s fine to cut employees some slack, but if you have that person who isn‘t pulling their weight and is dragging the team back, replace them with someone who can do the job. Sometimes you may not need to fire them; they may just be better suited to a different position or department.
For more ‘boss tips’ check out the
top 5 reasons your staff dislike you and avoid these pitfalls from the start. All the best!
About the author: Joy Ehonwa is a writer, editor and online proofreader who is passionate about relationships and personal development. She runs Pinpoint Creatives, a copy-editing, ghostwriting and transcription business, and blogs at www.anafricandiva.wordpress.com and www.girlaware.wordpress.com
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This article was first published on 3rd November 2014
jehonwa
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
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After years of being just an employee, you are now a boss. Whether you have been promoted to head of department or you have started your own company, congratulations are in order! Now that you’re going to have people under you, some of whom you will have a hand in recruiting, here are 7 things top executives advise you to keep in mind:
1. Go for the best fit every single time. Don’t let sentiments or nepotism lead you astray. Make sure you hire only the most competent people.
2. Give new employees time to settle in. Sure, there will be some who will hit the ground running, but most will require time to get used to the new job/position, and to get used to you. Be encouraging.
3. Don’t micro-manage your staff. If you hired well (see 1 above) there won’t be any real need to do this. You may be tempted to pitch in and help them out, but you must not give in. Delegate, then trust them and allow them to do their jobs. Give them room to show initiative. This is the only way they can grow. Besides, if you keep hovering over their shoulders you’ll end up overworked and burnt out.
4. Communicate clearly. Let your employees know what you want, how you want it and when. Give clear instructions.
5. You know that nasty thing employers do when they deliberately pit employees against each other? Don’t do it. There are proper ways to encourage healthy competition, if that is your goal. Build a team that works together.
6. Keep your staff motivated. Words of affirmation, genuine interest in their career growth and sheer kindness all go a long way to keep staff motivated. Still, you must remember that nothing can take the place of proper remuneration. Reward good work with good pay.
7. Don’t be afraid to fire. You are only as strong as your weakest link. It’s fine to cut employees some slack, but if you have that person who isn‘t pulling their weight and is dragging the team back, replace them with someone who can do the job. Sometimes you may not need to fire them; they may just be better suited to a different position or department.
For more ‘boss tips’ check out the top 5 reasons your staff dislike you and avoid these pitfalls from the start. All the best!
About the author: Joy Ehonwa is a writer, editor and online proofreader who is passionate about relationships and personal development. She runs Pinpoint Creatives, a copy-editing, ghostwriting and transcription business, and blogs at www.anafricandiva.wordpress.com and www.girlaware.wordpress.com
