Have you been experiencing a stale business recently? Perhaps your employees have changed behavior, but you have no idea why. If this sounds familiar, maybe it is time to look into your business management habits. You may be the problem, not your employees.
There are common business management misconceptions that lead bosses into bad habits. These bad habits may come off as a lack of compassion for employees, which, in turn, reveals unpleasant relationships. What are these common leadership misconceptions?
Business Management Misconceptions
It is a misconception that leaders cannot show their vulnerable side. It is a common notion that bosses should always appear strong and detached. This is not always the case. In fact, great leaders oftentimes are not afraid to show vulnerability. This allows their team or subordinates to see how they are as real people and not just as leaders who try to control them.
Another misconception is that leaders should always be working 24/7, all day and all night. This is a dangerous path to take, especially for one’s health. A lack of work-life balance will lead to eventual burnout. It will not only negatively affect yourself; it will also affect the company. A leader and a boss should always be present when needed, but taking breaks should also be a priority.
Lastly, not all bosses or managers are extroverts. Sometimes, introverts turn out to be better leaders than their extroverted counterparts. Whether you are an extrovert or an introvert does not matter much. What matters is how you process information and how you handle situations to better the company and your team.
Be a Better Boss
So you have observed that you may, in fact, be lacking leadership and management skills. You also admit that your company could use a little pick-me-up. What can you do to become a better boss?
First of all, improve your communication skills. This does not mean that you should talk non-stop to get your employees to listen. Communication involves listening to your team’s needs and concerns so you can address these concerns immediately and appropriately. Take the time each day to get to know each of your employees’ personalities and see how you can develop their professional life further by guiding them and acting as their mentor.
Next on the list is to have justifiable objectives for your team. Avoid assigning unreasonable lists of tasks to your employees. Assess your team’s capabilities and skills so you can assign ample amounts of tasks each day according to their strengths and weaknesses. You would want to avoid overworking your team to prevent burnout and potential resentment against your management. Maintain a healthy team by knowing their limits as workers.
Another thing to consider is the state of your company’s workplace. Make sure you pay attention to your employees’ needs and rights when it comes to the workplace. This does not only involve the communication and relationships within the team. It also involves the physical aspects of the workplace. Is it safe? Is it clean? Is it comfortable enough to work in? Provide time to assess your workplace if anything needs modification to improve team efficiency and productivity.
In the summer, your air conditioning unit may be broken, which could slow down your employees’ performance. However, during winter, you would have to check your heating system as you might need furnace installation services to keep your employees warm and cozy. Comfortable employees will improve your company’s efficiency and productivity.
What if you have been working from home? Even if you have started working remotely because of the pandemic, company culture remains in your communication lines and team activities. Ensure safe and healthy communication between team members by keeping open communication regarding employees’ concerns. Prevent violation of employees’ rights by strengthening your human resources division. You shouldn’t simply rely on your HR team, though. As a boss, you should learn to listen.
Bottomline
Business management involves many factors to consider. Being a boss entails taking on big responsibilities. Ensure you are ready and equipped to handle these responsibilities each day to keep your company running smoothly.
Keep track of your employees’ needs to maintain your employee turnaround rate low. Remember that having happy employees means having a happy business. A happy business means a happy boss. That’s you.
So go ahead and talk to your employees. Treat your team like family. By showing them your laid-back but respectable side, you will be on your way to strengthening your team and your company. After all, you won’t even have a company without your beloved employees.
