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5 Ways to Manage Employees with Success

Guest post by: Sylvia Lafair

Article Overview: Are you, as an entrepreneur out of touch with your employees? Did you ever note that they come first, even before customers? You can only keep customers if you manage your employees with the right tools. Research on human development shows that throwing money at people is not enough. Here are some universal rules to guide you to being an outstanding employer.

5 Ways to Manage Employees with Success

"Give them cake" was not the best tag line for the French Revolution. Marie Antoinette and husband Louie were way out of touch with what their constituents needed. Are you, as an entrepreneur out of touch with your employees? Did you ever note that they come first, even before customers?

You can only keep customers if you manage your employees with the right tools. Many companies call employees their "internal customers", and this is the smart way to see them.

So, what do employees want?????

There is enough research on human development to show that throwing money at people is not enough. Here are some universal rules that can guide you to being an outstanding employer. Those who can really understand the personal and psychological needs of those who work for them will have a better opportunity to create a winning team.

1. Everyone wants to be heard! That means you need to listen. NO, don't tell me you don't have time. Find it. Listening brings in the money. Ask your employees questions about how they see their jobs. Don't spend your time explaining to them. Give them time to talk.

2. Then say "I hear you". That's a simple statement. You can do it. NO, you don't have to agree. Saying "I hear you" is a statement of recognition, nothing more.

3. Think about what you have been told. YES, take the time to jot down some ideas from what you employees have told you. There is always a new way to figure out how to skin the cat called your business.

4. Get back to them. YES, you owe them a response. Doing it personally is best; however, in today's world a hand written note, something that has a personal touch is also valuable. A phone call can work and email, so long as you make sure you personalize it is still okay.

5. Acknowledge, acknowledge, acknowledge. That means find the one or two things this specific employee does that make a difference and let them know it. This is the core of true care and feeding of employees.

If Marie Antoinette hadn't been so busy getting hair extensions and worrying about what she was wearing, she may have had a better outcome.

As an entrepreneur, leader, employer, your major test is to keep workplace conflict to a minimum, to create a workplace environment that gives people a sense that they matter.

So, what do employees want?????

They want what we all want in all relationships, to be heard and acknowledged. Learning to listen and appreciate matters. Do it. You'll be glad you did and so will they.

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Article Tags: Communication, Human Development, Listening, Relationships, Responding, Workplace Conflict



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