Become a better boss and reap the benefits
Another interesting study was done. One that should really catch our attention. It reveals that employees who are happier and treated well, produce better results than those who are unhappy. And most frontline workers are unhappy and are looking elsewhere for work.
No, it shouldn't surprise us. But somehow it does. It surprises us first, because we are stunned that a study had to be done to prove something that is so obvious. The outcome of the study should not be as surprising as the fact that it was done at all! When we recover from that, then it may surprise us because we aren't aware that most frontline staffers aren't happy and they don't feel that they are treated well at work.
Ugh! This must make us look at ourselves if we are managers. But we have to give ourselves a break?we're not the bad guy! I think I know why and how this happens.
The position somehow changes us whether we know it or not! My own research, and my work with thousands of frontline supervisors, lead me to believe that there is a clear and simple answer: We become so consumed with the position, we lose the 'person' we think and know ourselves to be. This is too bad too, because it was probably that personable person who got us this higher position!
The fun-loving, spontaneous, smiling person we think ourselves as, has morphed into a serious, unapproachable, distracted, frenzied boss, concentrating on the demands of the position, losing the person we were and forgetting the people who work for us. The moment we concentrate on the work and the final product and not the people who produce that product, we become the 'position' and leave behind the person who relates to others on a personal level. We want to be successful and do a good job. We think taking the job so seriously is part of the package. Oooops. Big mistake.
This serious approach to the position not only negatively affects our workers, but us, too. When we reach a toxic level of 'position', it is usually painful: we feel misunderstood, overwhelmed, crisis-oriented, over-stressed and we begin to hate our job, and maybe our co-workers, which we may have previously loved. Others see this and they begin to shy away from us. This cycle happens so often that many supervisors quit within 3 years of the promotion.
So here's where the results of the study comes in. Supervisors need to remind themselves that no matter what work they think are in, they are really in 'human services'. No matter what the company does: make widgets, produce soft or hardware, sell via the phone; once you become a frontline supervisor your priority must be the human beings who are responsible to you, as it is those humans who produce the final product. The work or the final product is no longer your priority. No work is done well if people aren't happy doing it. So don't lose your 'person' to the 'position'.
And here we must be reminded why people leave their jobs (this, from yet another study). Most people leave because they see their supervisor as a jerk, and second they leave because they don't feel acknowledged, recognized or appreciated. We can again become the 'person' known to be talented, liked and therefore, promoted, by remembering the importance of the people who do the job. Stop the vicious cycle. Lighten up! Smile. Visit. Have fun. It's a win-win situation!
About The Author
Linda LaPointe, MRA, is author of The New Supervisor, who has taught thousands successful supervisory techniques. See part two of this article, buy the book, and sign up for Linda's FREE E-Tools News at www.thenewsupervisor.com; soseniors@yahoo.com
Globalization is requiring companies to make important choices about how... Read More
Whoever said that being a meeting planner was easy, lied!... Read More
This article relates to the Recognition competency, commonly evaluated in... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
Last month, my featured article was about creating a "Stop... Read More
Want to hear a fascinating story? Let's sit in at... Read More
A critical task in the succession planning process of any... Read More
Whilst tests measuring the creative or innovative personality exist, there... Read More
BUILDING TRUST AS A MANAGER: 1. Be reliable. Follow through... Read More
If you run a business, you are sure to have... Read More
In September 2004, President Bush signed the $146 billion tax... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
Do you find yourself easily becoming bored or tired at... Read More
Many organizations have an approach for identifying and recording lessons... Read More
Many organisations use the term "lessons learned" to describe the... Read More
Each time you or one of your work crews cruises... Read More
Any IT manager who wants to pursue the IT Service... Read More
You're on your organization's diversity committee. You have the best... Read More
Meetings can be like mythical vampires ? sucking the life... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
As waves of organizational change sweep across the business landscape,... Read More
Trust is essential. You can't run a business without it.... Read More
Teamwork is a process that can be experienced outdoors and... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
One of the key skills for the leaders of growing... Read More
If you work from home, chances are you already know... Read More
Military analysts call this "asymmetrical" war (as if war has... Read More
IntroductionAre you looking for a way to gain control of... Read More
If you're like most people, you probably started with wonderful... Read More
For centuries companies have used on-the-job training (OJT). OJT works... Read More
Today's employees are not only interested in security or in... Read More
It's no secret! Day after day the news is riddled... Read More
Here is a true story. My dentist did a "clinical"... Read More
PERMISSION TO REPUBLISH: This article may be republished in newsletters... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
Fundamentals in Place? There is a designated place for everything... Read More
Telecommuting or virtual work opens up a wider net of... Read More
Businesses miss on growth opportunities and even close their doors... Read More
As a training manager, there are two important aspects to... Read More
Project heroes. We've all heard of them. Some of us... Read More
The use of temporary services to stock a farm of... Read More
Almost, if not all organisations have them, they've been around... Read More
I've just been reading about the frustrations of a Human... Read More
There's one simple secret to effective meetings: set an agenda... Read More
Nothing has changed. Your ancestors lived by faith. Some planted... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
If you think ahead and plan, many nightmare panic and... Read More
An essential step in managing the performance of salespeople is... Read More
This facilitator's guide to running a stakeholder analysis workshop is... Read More
E-mail, voicemail, "got a minute?" interruptions, multiple projects... Read More
Few things are more destructive to a career than a... Read More
It's all very well having a flashy (and expensive) advertising... Read More
Great Groups! - Getting a Group to Think Like a... Read More
In today's chaotic world and uncertain economic times too many... Read More
In the call center environment we are often only as... Read More
One of the hardest things I had discovered running my... Read More
Do you find yourself easily becoming bored or tired at... Read More
While it's probably not true to say that the traditional... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
A trainer dryly discussing how to motivate people in an... Read More
In September 2004, President Bush signed the $146 billion tax... Read More
We all have psychic abilities that we use daily, although... Read More
This is a story about a man and three dogs.I... Read More
I have always said that if I were to write... Read More
A successful leader told me, "The biggest challenge I've had... Read More
If you want to find success in various ramifications, be... Read More
Business Management |