Managing employees is a full time job and even the most patient managers lose their cool. Still, the percentage of managers that have success with all that bluster is rather low. With the world today, you have to be able to give and get respect without the “my way or the highway” attitude. These days you can find yourself on the wrong side of a lawsuit for less than that. So how do you adjust to this management nightmare? Here are some tips on how to manage your employees with class:
It all begins with respect. Many managers have the attitude that their employees should respect them right out of the gate. The fact is, the vast majority of employees do not respect their boss if the boss does not earn it. How do they earn it? Simply by caring about their employees and showing them the same respect that they are longing to have. This is not an overnight thing. It takes time, patience and a lot of work.
Another key ingredient to managing with class is the ability to go to bat for your employees. Some managers jump on whatever ship is being sailed. They jump at the chance to talk about how bad their employees are. Rarely do you find a manager that can keep their employees propped up instead. If you sing their praises you will quickly find a group of employees that respect and admire you.
Keeping your cool is another key aspect to managing your people. If you are a hot head that screams, yells, or argues with your employees, then you are not managing with class. Nobody ever wins when an argument happens, and you end up with a crew of workers that want nothing to do with you. Those are not people that you can then try to motivate to do a good job, now is it?
Lead the way with every single task. You are a manager because your superiors consider you the best trainer in that department or area of business. If you are the best, should you not be setting the example for your employees and their performance. Nothing teaches an employee better than visual examples. Get those hands dirty and do not be afraid to show them how it is done.
Finally, the primary way to ensure you are managing with class is to be fair in every situation. If you can not give that vacation without it being fair to other workers, then stand pat. Do not compromise fairness under any conditions. Once you do then the slope becomes very slippery. Make sure the opportunities go to those people that deserve them.
Being a classy boss is actually a good thing and it boils down to common sense. Treat others as you would wish to be treated. This does not mean to let employees walk all over you. If you run into this situation your problem is likely in the human resources department and not in the management arena.
