11 Tips on Getting Along with Employees

A happy office is a productive one. Everyone will be more cheerful if you follow these simple rules.

1. Don’t micromanage. While it’s fine to keep up with what your employees are working on, don’t constantly look over their shoulders.

2. Don’t play favorites. Playing favorites can bias your judgment and impair your leadership abilities. Treat your employees equally.

3. Give credit when it’s due. Don’t take credit for your employees’ ideas or hog their limelight. This action not only fosters resentment but also makes you seem untrustworthy.

4. Don’t make your employees come in on days they’re normally not scheduled to work or call them while they’re on vacation. A surefire way to make employees resent you is to invade their personal time for nonpressing work. Unless you have something that absolutely has to be done, let time away from work stay that way.

5. Never discuss employee matters with their co-workers. This kind of gossip always gets back to the person and will make you look unprofessional.

6. Don’t interfere with employees’ work. If your employees are getting work done, don’t stress about how it gets done. Even if it’s not being done they way you’d do it, it’s best to let employees use their best judgment.

7. Don’t push unreasonable deadlines. You don’t want to spend all of your time at the office, and neither do your employees.

8. Keep your promises. Barring some catastrophic event, you should always keep promises you make to employees, especially about pay and benefits.

9. Keep work about work. Don’t require employees to run your personal errands. Take care of your own personal business or hire an assistant.

10. Reward hard work. Make sure your employees feel valued for the work that they do. Employees will be more willing to put in extra effort if they know it’s noted and appreciated.

11. Provide motivation. Sometimes employees need a morale boost. Provide them with encouragement to get a project rolling.


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