We've always heard people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones, yet most of us spend our lives chunking rocks out of our glass dwelling toward someone else's. We think we're great at something -- say, supervising our employees -- it's those other guys over there with the problem, we feel sure.
Before you pick up the next boulder or even handful of pebbles, take this quiz from Workshop contributor Edith Helmich. It can help you hone in on your supervisory strengths and weaknesses, and become a better manager. And probably improve your aim. If your company's employee turnover is too high, or efficiency is low, or employees are hostile or unhappy, then it is time to do some honest evaluation about supervision. Most employers think that they are good bosses. However, there are an awful lot of employees out there who feel that they have bad bosses. If you have ever wondered which category your employees would place you in, ask yourself the following questions that describe "bad boss" behavior: 1. Have you ever berated an employee in public? 2. Have you ever taken credit for something an employee did? 3. Are your employees afraid of you? 4. Are you a "no excuses allowed" type? 5. Do you expect employees to "know" or to "do" without telling them? 6. Do you yell or shout at employees? 7. Have you ever tried to belittle or humiliate an employee as punishment? 8. Do you "lean on" or make it more difficult for someone who has displeased you? 9. Do you play favorites? 10. Do you constantly check everyone's work for quality? 11. Are you reluctant to let employees make decisions? 12. Do you expect employees to do what you ask without question? Few of you are going to admit to anyone else that even one or two of the above questions describe your behavior as a boss, but these are common workplace problems that employees experience. The consequences, of course, are negative for both the employees and the business. Even customers are turned off when the employer-employee relationship is noticeably sour. What to do? Start a new series of "good boss" behaviors. Good bosses: 1. Correct employees in private. 2. Take care to give employees full credit for what they do. 3. Project a caring image. 4. Temper accountability with the opportunity for reasonable explanation. 5. Clearly define job duties and deadlines. 6. Speak to employees with respect. 7. Provide feedback and training for problems on the job. 8. Have clearly defined sanctions for misconduct. 9. Treat all employees fairly and equally. 10. Supervise without being oppressive or suspicious. 11. Encourage initiative and decision-making on the job. 12. Encourage employees to question and discuss job issues. 13. Create a complaint resolution procedure for employees. 14. Provide written employee materials for reference. Bad bosses are bad business. It follows that good bosses are -- that's right -- good business! The time to start being a better boss is now. Source: http://WWW.nfib.Com/object/1583953.HTML
