Every business owner wants to believe they are the best boss in the history of all bosses. While in fact you may be great, everyone can always sharpen their leadership skills. There are plenty of lessons to learn in entrepreneurship and management. While I am no expert, I did some research on what employees want from their employers.
A survey was conducted by a HR consulting firm Development Dimensions International 1. Over 900 employees participated in this survey. The ten most common complaints employees had about their bosses are below:
1. Tries too hard to be everyone’s friend
2. Micromanages
3. Ignores conflict
4. Arrogant
5. Wishy-washy
6. Impulsive
7. Unable to delegate
8. Impatient
9. Stubborn
10. Unprofessional
While reading this list, try and conjure up a memory where you have committed any of the top ten “supervisor sins”. If you can’t, CONGRATULATIONS! You may be the best boss ever.
If you can remember doing one of these, think about the event and imagine where you could have acted differently. Many complaints about management reflect a resistance in the manager’s efforts to re-evaluate their leadership style.
You can learn a lot from your employees. Spend a day with them to learn what they do and deal with on a daily basis. You may develop a higher appreciation for the skills they bring to your company and how much of their success contributes to the success of your business.
Remember, Albert Einstein defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results. If something is not working in your office, change it and you may see your business continue to grow.
1. “Bosses’ 10 Biggest Sins.” CNNMoney. Cable News Network, 16 Oct. 2006. Web. 19 Apr. 2012. <http://money.cnn.com/2006/10/16/pf/boss_sins/index.htm>.