I have worked for business owners and managers who run their business with a chip on their shoulder. Life has thrown them under the buss or so it feels to them. They have had to make their own way in the business world and they feel their employees should simply pull themselves up by their bootstraps and carry on. I have heard these same owners and managers say, “I didn’t have anyone to show me the ropes, why should they” or “I had to figure it out, they can too”. They treat their employees as they have been treated. The problem with this kind of leading is it removes your compassion with not only your employees, but with the human race.
I have seen the impact first hand when negative, chaotic employers attempt to run a business. They are demanding, task oriented and something about the business just feels off. As a customer you cannot always tell what the issue is, but you know there is an underlining one, because the “hidden” tension comes out through how the employees interact with each other. When employees feel unappreciated, taken for granted and unhappy, they will handle it according to their natural personality. Some employees will simply put on a smiling face, put their nose to the grind stone and just do their work. While others will buck and fight the system. They will not stand for the mistreatment or chaotic atmosphere the chip the owner or manager walks around with on their shoulder. Instead they will walk out, while other employees will make your life hell as you wonder why they are making life for you so difficult. The problem with this is it will trickle over to your customers, which will affect sales and create a cycle of frustration for everyone.
It not only trickles into your customers it creates a constant frustration on the manager or owners part because you have high turn over and are having to constantly cover shifts because you cannot keep your staff. In order to begin to turn the ship around, you have to be willing to turn yourself around first.
When you walk into a business where the business owner and/or manager has taken to heart positively mentoring their staff, you instantly feel the positive love in the air. You can hear, see, taste and feel the difference. You hear the difference in the laughing and friendly chatter going on between employees. You can see it in the relaxed smiles and confidence these happy employees wear. You can taste it as each beverage and food item are made correctly, efficiently and consistently each and every time. You can feel the difference, because simply in ordering their product or service you left feeling affirmed, although you may not have realized it is what happened.
I firmly believe a employers first job description is to provide everything their staff needs to be successful. This includes rewards, praise, affirmations and incentives. I use to have a just do your job mentality. After all I had employers who expected me to function this way. Guess what? It did not work with me and it does not work with my kids, employees or anyone else under my leadership. They will see it as abuse and they will not put even half of their heart into your business.
A happy employee in a healthy working environment will sell your business for you. If you want to build your business, you must first build your relationship with your employees. If you find yourself in the negative boss category, you must first work to change yourself. You need to go to your employees and ask their forgiveness. Humbly recognize you have not been a stellar, awesome, life giving boss. Humble apologizing can go a long way in beginning to restore your relationship with your staff, then you must follow up. Saying your sorry is good, but change is better.
Breathe a breath of fresh air into your business and begin to see your staff as your number one asset. Make it a goal and a habit to personally affirm your staff. Thanking them and telling them the positive, leadership qualities you see in them. Speak their potential into their life. Then cultivate that potential. Give them opportunities to practice the leadership qualities you see. Be the leader you want your staff to be.