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Article for “The Boss”
1. How to motivate your employees
2. What behaviour is “acceptable” in work
3. Dealing with angry employees
4. How to keep your best employees
1. How to motivate your employees
If you are a manager and want to motivate your staff, there these are some simple steps to take to move towards making your employees feel empowered and motivated at work.
- Make sure your employees are recognised and you pay attention to them. Recognise what they have done especially if they have done it well. This will help to raise their confidence in their ability and perform better.
- Make a fuss about good work by giving them a reward and letting others in the office know about their success. This will make them feel like they have done a great job.
- Training makes employees feel worthy and that they mean something to you as a boss and the company. It also helps them to develop their skills and abilities and perform their job better. Training is on-going and invaluable.
- Make the office and area where you work look nice and feel nice. Put pictures and targets on the wall, have plants on the tables, allow comfortable chairs etc It is amazing how this can make employees feel motivated and happy at work.
- Allow people to lead or manage projects or tasks from time to time. This makes people feel important and stimulated.
- Organise social events for the team. It allows people to get to know each other on a personal level and when you get to know people better it forms better working relationships.
- Dress down days boost morale on the actual day and can boost performance.
- Give members of staff additional responsibility every now and then. It makes them feel like they can perform their everyday task and more and can empower them.
- Allow your staff to take the breaks legally required and have a decent amount of time off work to relax. If certain goals are reached then allow them to leave early or extend lunch periods as a short term perk.
- Jokes and fun are important and can make the office a more enjoyable place. Maybe give your staff funny items as a gift if they do a particularly good job. Creating a vibrant and fun atmosphere can motivate people and increase their performance levels.
- On occasional days buy cakes or pizzas for your staff as this is just a small thing to help everyone stay motivated.
- Provide a solid career path that the employees are aware of and understand. Make sure they know what levels they can work towards and how they can get there. It creates aims and objectives and motivates them if they know there is something to achieve.
- Provide goals and objectives with incentives. This is so important so people know what they are doing and what they have to do. It allows them to measure their abilities carefully and once certain levels are achieved it can be extremely motivating.
- One to Ones. Make sure you meet regularly with each of your employees to provide them with feedback on their performance. People need feedback in order to improve and this can help to motivate individuals to achieve new targets set in each meeting.
- Competitions create a buzz and atmosphere between staff. It motivates them to make sure they achieve their targets and compete against their colleagues. This is a great way to motivate and increase performance levels.
2. What behaviour is “acceptable” in work
Some bosses see certain behaviour as totally unacceptable where others see it as standard. Every boss is different and all companies have certain company rules and policies but here is a guideline about what we think you should allow and what you shouldn’t. If you are confused and need some help, hopefully we can help.
Dress – depending on what industry you work in suits and smart dress helps to keep the employees minds on the job and fosters a healthy working attitude. Allow dress down Fridays or dress down days where employees can come in, in their own clothes.
Personal dealings – everyone may need to call the doctor or arrange a delivery from time to time so it is important to allow your staff the flexibility to be able to make a personal call or come in half an hour late from a visit to the dentist. If you are completely restrictive and do not allow any calls or flexibility with dealing with personal errands, you will come across sneaky phone calls in the toilet and sick days. Be realistic!
Internet usage – should you allow Facebook? Personal email account? Again, it obviously depends on the industry you deal with but in general it is a good idea to ban the use of sites that can take up so much time within working hours and allow them before and after work and during lunch.
Personal chatting and joking around – an office that is strict on no talking about anything other than work is just not real and can be very restrictive and not enjoyable. Being able to speak to your colleagues as friends and discuss your weekend antics creates a nice working atmosphere for everyone there. It is great to be able to have fun at work if it has an effort on hard work and performance.
It really depends on your requirements and what sort of people you manage. Different industries will create different levels of management; for example, sales people and accountants may be treated very differently, likewise small companies may be more flexible compared to larger corporate companies.
3. Dealing with angry employees
There are various different types of anger that you as a manager may experience. It can become very disruptive to have an employee that continuously gets angry with you and it can eventually rub off on others if you are not careful.
Anger towards to you as a manager may surface through activities such as, rumour spreading, poor performance, un-cooperation. It is important to try to identify this sort of anger before it becomes verbal or physical towards you and address it early on. However, if it is allowed to fester and the employee becomes overtly angry, what do you do?
It is never a good idea to react in the same way back to the angry employee with an outburst. This is quite often the first thing that is done but can be in fact very destructive. People will be watching you very carefully at how you handle such anger so it is important to deal with it in a calm and collective way.
If someone erupts in anger, it needs to be dealt with there and then. Take the employee into a meeting room or to one side and speak to them about the issue and resolve it straight away. If something like this occurs in a meeting, ask them if they would like to talk about it there and then or if they would like to wait and discuss it later.
If your employee closes up and does not want to speak to you about the problem, then it may be a good idea to calmly say that you understand they may not want to discuss this with their boss but it would do both of you a great deal of good if it could be let into the open and moved on from.
Always allow the employee to talk and finish what they have to say. Do not stop them or interrupt them as this will create more anger.
Once the employee has explained the problems and issues, calmly say to them that you understand what they are saying and try to match both of your perceptions in your reply to make it look like you are the same side. Finish by saying you are going to both help to work out the problem rather than telling them what to do/think.
Before going into detail about how you will move on from this, try to get the employee to agree with some points so you are both on the same terms. E.g. “now do we both agree that we do not want this sort of behaviour to interfere with our work?”
When you have finished the conversation, ask the employee how they feel and if they are satisfied with how you are going to move forward from here.
People are different so the way you handle one angry employee can vary to the next. Try to be as calm as possible and follow the general guidelines given here to help you manage the process.
4. How to keep your best employees
http://www.itworld.com/Career/nlscareers071008/
Articles – for Employees
- My boss always gets angry with me and I don’t know what to do?
- How to get along with your boss
- Certain things you should NEVER say to your boss or director
- If your boss is bullying you, what do you do?
- How to really impress your boss and attract their attention
- How to make your boss laugh
- Ten Top ways to get fired
- How to behave at work to make your boss like you
- Help I hate my boss. How do I handle working with him?
- The different types of terrible bosses
1. My boss always shouts at me and I don’t know what to do?
This is not right and your boss should not shout at you. Some managers seem to use this technique as they think it will toughen their employees up and they do not see anything wrong with it. However, it is not an effective management technique and can cause employees to loose their motivation and creativity.
If the situation is particularly painful and you just cannot handle the behaviour then it may be time for you to move on. However, if you want to stay because you love your job then there are certain things you can do.
The best and first thing to try is to ask to speak to your boss and sit down with them and explain calmly how you dislike being shouted at and how you would prefer to be spoken to when they are calm rather than angry. If you do not say anything then it is likely to continue and make you even more unhappy over time. It may be scary but your boss will respect you for taking the time and effort to speak to them.
If you think your boss is getting particularly angry after certain things happening, then try to identify what it is that is causing them to erupt. If it has something to do with the way you work, then maybe you need to become aware of these things and try your best to avoid them. If you are not working hard enough or you are making mistakes then it is important to address these issues and concentrate harder.
If you cannot face talking to your boss and things are not getting easier with your efforts in place, you should speak to someone higher up whom maybe able to help. The same goes for getting in touch with someone in HR. They deal with everyday personnel so they may have some more specific advice for you to take. Be careful taking this strategy as your boss may get angry about you not going to him/her first.
No one should have to deal with a screaming boss on a daily basis and so if you feel you are in this position, you need to take the steps to resolve it. Even if you make mistakes at work, you should not be shouted at.
2. How to get along with your boss
As it is a good idea to make sure you are friends with your boss, you may wish to take certain steps to foster a better relationship with them.
Make sure you know the boundaries of your role and the difference between your position and your bosses. It is important to complete the tasks you have been set and avoid doing what you shouldn’t otherwise you will feel like you have done a lot of work and not get praised for it. You may even be stepping on other peoples toes and wasting a lot of time. Try to refer back to your job description regularly and make sure you are fulfilling your requirements.
Come into work to work instead of doing all your personal errands and dealing with personal issues. If you need to call the doctor or plumber, then ask but do not get caught sitting on Facebook or sending personal emails all day because this will not go down well with your boss.
Communicate with your boss regularly and if you think you cannot do something or you cannot meet your targets or deadlines, tell them. It looks worse if you have a mad panic at the last minute or you make mistakes along the way so always make sure you communicate any questions or problems as you encounter them.
Also, do not get annoyed or stressed with your boss as this could cause you to loose your actual job. If you have a problem with your boss or there is something getting under your skin, speak to them as this will clear the air and help your relationship.
Do not be late. This is a pet hate for most bosses and can ruin a working relationship. On top of this, fellow employees can feel resentment towards you and complain about you to your boss if it happens too much. This is an easy thing to avoid by just leaving a little earlier in the morning.
Do your best to get on with your boss and please them with your performance. This will ensure your boss enjoys working with you, it can help your motivation and make your time at work more pleasurable.
3. Certain things you should NEVER say to your boss or director
- 1. I hate this company and I want to leave
- 2. Only 10 minutes to go!
- 3. Be my friend on Facebook
- 4. I don’t get paid enough for this
- 5. I got so wasted last night
- 6. That is not in my job description
- 7. Does it matter if I don’t finish this
- 8. It was not my fault!
- 9. How much money do you earn?
- 10. Yeah, whatever!
4. If your boss is bullying you, what do you do?
It is sometimes difficult to know whether you are being bullied or not and it is difficult to really know whether you have a case to report. However, the following bullying tactics are some to help you identify whether you have fallen victim to workplace bullying or not:
- Made-up rules – generally against you
- Silent treatment
- Accused of things you have NOT done
- Discounting your personal opinions, work etc
- Non-verbal intimidation – stared at etc
- Encouraging others to turn against you as well
- Starting rumours, which are about you and your work and generally negative
- Constant criticising
- Harsh treatment>
- Ignoring and not commenting on good work
Being bullied can also make you feel stressed and cause you to fall ill. For example, you may experience symptoms, such as, headaches, sickness, anxiety, sleeplessness etc
Therefore, it is important to take the following steps in order to try to resolve the situation:
- Speak to the bully – sometimes the direct approach works the best. Just ask them to stop and explain their behaviour is unacceptable – you may find this works straight away.
- Tell someone else that you trust – maybe a colleague. Ask for their help – they may have been in your situation before and can help you.
- If you are part of a Union, then speak to them. They will be happy to give you confidential, sound advice and will want to resolve the situation quickly and quietly.
- Report the incident to your manager/supervisor. If it is your manager bullying you, then go to their manager. If you have not been able to resolve the situation yourself, then others need to know in order for it to stop.
- Keep a note and diary of every incident including the dates, times, situation and any witnesses present.
- Never be alone with the bully – always try to be around others so there are witnesses to anything that happens.
- Do not fight back or get into a debate with them otherwise it could be construed as your fault.
- If it gets really bad and none of the above has led to the bully stopping, you may need to make a formal complaint and go through the grievance procedures. At this stage you must ensure you have all the necessary evidence before proceeding.
- Do not waste anytime. The longer you wait, the longer it goes on and the more likely others will be put in the same position.
5. How to really impress your boss and attract their attention
Whilst employed in any job, there are several things you can do to impress your boss to increase the chances of receiving a pay rise, further responsibilities or even a promotion into a new job.
Learn about your boss
By knowing what makes your boss tick, what their goals are and how they work, it will help you relate to them and understand how to work to make them happy. In general, individuals will work better with others if they know and understand them.
Trust
Show your boss that you can deliver what you say you can. Make sure you meet your deadlines and that you consistently complete tasks on time to a high standard. If you can do this, your boss will begin to trust you and rely on your ability to do the tasks you are set. Ultimately, your boss will assign you further responsibilities and you may be offered a promotion.
Rapport
By building a good relationship with your employer, you are more likely to work more productively and make your boss like you. Being friends with him/her and talking about your interests and hobbies will help to build up a good relationship. Always remember though, that they are still your boss!
Make your boss’s job easy
As well as doing your current role, try to take the pressure off your boss by helping with additional tasks. If necessary, you may need to work longer hours in order to highlight your skills and abilities and really impress your boss. Try to resolve any problems they face or suggest new methods to issues that arise.
Work out what you are good at & enjoy your work
By organising your day and identifying what you are good at, you can work cleverly to impress your boss. If you can do things very well, then try to get involved in these tasks more to show you are extremely capable of doing them. If you are performing tasks that you are good at, you will enjoy your work more and as a result naturally be more productive.
Appearance and Presentation
Always turn up to work well presented and dress appropriately. You do not want to upset your boss by dressing down, wearing too much make-up or not being clean in the morning. If you can dress up smartly, you look professional and therefore approach your work in a more professional manner.
Acquire new skills and further knowledge
By going on courses and showing you are keen to learn and develop your skills, you will really impress your employer. Not only will this initially create an impact, but also it will give your employer confidence in your future skills and abilities, recognizing your enthusiasm to learn and develop. One of the best ways to secure a promotion is to expand your knowledge and skill sets. Ask your boss about courses, training or such like that will help advance your learning.
Keep up to date with current industry news
It is also known that those who want to succeed should keep up to date with industry news and events as well as interesting trends outside their own speciality. This can prove to be very useful to the company and by showing you are keen to research and keep to date with trends in the industry, you will no doubt make an impression on your boss.
Ask for more responsibility
By asking for more work, more responsibility or volunteering to help out in the department shows interest and desire to be there and to help the company succeed. This in itself will impress the boss.
Be a team player
Teamwork is invaluable to companies and a very important skill to possess. By showing you are a good, effective team player, you will build your reputation and increase your value.
6. How to make your boss laugh?
A good sense of humor can foster a good working relationship with your boss and it shows you are happy and enjoy working.
Before you starting cracking sex jokes and putting a whoopee cushion on his/her chair, you need to analyze their type of humor and what they would find funny. It would be a disaster to get it wrong. Once you understand their humor you are safe to crack certain types of jokes or play funny games.
Relax! If you are stressed out or up tight then it is difficult to be funny and crack jokes. Make sure your work/life balance is healthy, you have a good social life and you do not stress too much about the work you have to do. Keep photos of friends or family on your desk or just something that makes you smile as this will help you relax at your desk. Being relaxed will make it easier for you to be humorous.
A good smile can help you to be a funny person. If you slouch in your chair and always have stern facial expression then try to practice smiling in the mirror. This can help your humor no end.
Telling personal stories is a great way to get a laugh. Remember all the funny things that happen to you over the weekend or when you are little and when it is the right time, tell them. Sometimes the funniest things are when you take the mick out of yourself and it is more interesting for people if they are about your own experiences.
Each time you have a meeting, try to say something funny at the end or at the most appropriate time to relieve the tension, if there is any. This way people will start to think you are a light hearted person and as long as your jokes are not personal or rude, your boss should laugh along.
If you do not have the personality to tell jokes then show your appreciation for humor by having things around you that are funny, for example, pictures on your wall, toys or books. Maybe wear a funny t-shirt on a dress down day.
Always remember, never try too hard. If you look like a try-hard it will go down the wrong way and you will only annoy your boss and the people around you. Try to relax and just let it flow.
7. Ten Top ways to get fired
1. Steel money
2. Drink at work
3. Steel company data
4. Shout and swear at your boss
5. Lie on your CV/ application
6. Look for a new job at work
7. Take drugs at work
8. Continuous mistakes, slacking and making personal calls, email etc
9. Become sexually involved with a boss/manager/director
10. Party every night, come in smelling of alcohol and not perform properly
8. How to behave at work to make your boss like you
Here is some handy advice on how you should behave at work to make your boss like you.
Firstly, be confident with your ability. Get on with your work and when talking to your boss be confident and explain things in a way that will make them understand and respect you.
Always listen and be attentive to the task in hand. Understand what you should be doing and take the right instructions. If you are unsure what you should be doing, then ask. Do not sit there wondering what your boss told you that morning or doing something that could easily be wrong.
Remain calm and never get uptight or stressed out about your work. If you panicking then spend some time creating a plan of action to put some structure to what you are doing. If you remain clam your boss will not worry about your ability as they will not know anything is wrong. If you need assistance with getting through this, just ask!
If you have lots of energy, then it can be infectious and enjoyable to be around as long as it is not over the top. It shows you enjoy your job and passionate about what you do. Your boy will love it!
Being strong willed and bold is important to be able to speak to your boss about problems or challenges and face up to anything. Your boss will appreciate your honesty and courageousness. You will also learn a lot better as you are learn from failure and be able to deal with it.
Finally, be good and make your boss become dependent on you. If you are able to manage and handle certain things that free up some time for your boss, you will become gold dust in their eyes.
9. Help I hate my boss. How do I handle working with him?
If you are really at your wits end with your boss and you really do hate him/her, then here are just some things you can bear in mind to make life a little easier.
Understand their communication style and how they behave at work. For example, do they swear, shout or use certain bullying tactics? Try not to be like them or match their behaviour. Take them for what they are and do not react to it.
Work out who the boss likes and why and then try to take pointers from them. Work out why others get promoted and maybe you can copy their actions to get into the bosses good books. You do not have to be just like them but at least you can consider the things you may need to do.
Find out what makes your boss angry and uptight and try not to push his/her buttons. It may be that it is the very little things that annoy your boss, like turning up a few minutes late for a meeting – something you do not think is that bad but he/she does. Avoid these things at all costs.
Keep everything that happens documented. You never know when this may come in handy. Write down what they have said to you, how, when and what happened after. If it continues and it gets particularly unbearable you will have evidence of your past experiences.
Update your CV and have a strategy for the future just in case it becomes too much to handle and you decide to leave.
If your boss is particularly upsetting you, shouting or saying negative things and you are bubbling inside, keep it in. Do not grumble or shout back or even bad mouth them behind their back. You will be surprised what people can hear and how things get passed from one person to another. It is not worth it. Keep calm and put your head down and get on with your work.
Even with these techniques in place, your boss may still continue to be the worst boss ever but it will be easier to handle. You always know you can leave especially if you have a plan in place. Try out some of the above ideas and you will certainly find your boss more manageable.
10. The different types of terrible bosses.
So, what type of boss is yours? If you hate them so much, let’s see how to actually categorise them. If you think there are any missing, email them to us at marketing@tiptopjob.com.
The Workaholic – your boss works day and night. He never sees his kids and does not have a social life. He sets too much work with totally unrealistic deadlines and expects way too much from you. If you cannot produce the work, he gets angry with you. His expectations are too high and he needs to relax!
The Complete Idiot – you really cannot comprehend how your boss is a boss and how they are still in business with the terrible decision making he makes. His decisions are never constant and he makes mistake after mistake. He has no common sense and continuously stresses about not doing things or being able to do things. He is quite simply an idiot!
The Bias– your boss has his favourites and always favours one person over everyone else. He always gives credit to this one person, gives them better tasks and NEVER tells them off, even if they have made a mistake or done something wrong.
The Blamer – your boss is never wrong and always places the blame on one of his staff. You cannot quite believe how they get away with it or how no one actually says anything as it is obvious who is in the wrong. He always blows his own trumpet and takes the credit for things that he should not take credit for.
The Joker – your boss is one who always plays practical jokes and makes everyone laugh. He does not take many things seriously and even has a laugh and joke with clients on the phone. Although he makes you laugh, you wonder how he can get away with talking like that to some directors and chairmen.
The Mate – your boss is everyone’s friend, quite sickly so. They get on with everyone and want to be involved in everyone’s business, even socially. Even though you like him, you still think he is your boss and should be acting like a boss.
The Dreamer – your boss is all talk. He likes to think he can do his job and get his business to the top in his industry but just has not got the personality or know how to do it. You wonder if he will ever see sense and realise where his company is positioned in the marketplace and where it will never be.
The Competitor – do you always find yourself saying you did something, but that your boss did it better? Did you go for dinner somewhere lovely, but your boss said they went somewhere lovelier? This boss is always better and always in competition with everyone at work, just to boost his ego. Quite sad really