How to Be a Respected Manager That Employees Work Hard For

If you respect your employees and the jobs they do, and you show that respect, they will, in return, respect you.

There is no long set of guidelines or rules to list to be a manager who employees respect and work hard for. The answer doesn't require much more than common sense, being thoughtful and looking at this picture from the employee's viewpoint.

Instructions

1. Putting yourself in your employees' shoes is one way to see the picture more clearly. Know that all humans have the desire to be liked, successful and commended for their good work.

2. Be open and honest about your position with them and never go behind their back talking about them to other employees. Talk with them, not at them!

3. Set the example. If you want your people to be on time, you need to set the example of being on time yourself. If you expect your people to be clean and neat in their appearance, provide great customer service, or work late when needed, do so yourself. You are the example and you will find you will not only gain respect by being a good example, but your production should improve as well.

4. Keep employees involved with the company and ask for ideas and suggestions of your employees regarding improvements that may be beneficial. Some managers fear being open or asking for opinions, thinking it may make them appear weak, but if you were an employee, wouldn't you want to know that your manager is a real person being honest and open?

5. Compliment employees. People want to be recognized and told they are doing a good job. Opposite this would be a manager who never gives out a compliment for fear that the person will then slack off. The opposite will occur. Criticize as needed, but in a way that your criticism is never an attack against them personally, and when you criticize, always be prepared to offer a realistic and helpful solution for improvement.

6. Give your employee a reputation to live up to. Encourage your people and let them know when something has accidentally gone wrong on their end, that we all have a bad day and fail at times. You may even be brave enough to give an example of a mistake you have made in life or a shortcoming you are trying to overcome yourself. Try that sometimes rather than criticizing or punishing and watch the results!

7. Draw your boundary lines up front. What is intolerable and will cause dismissal and what will it take to get promoted? Describe the company's goals, long-term and short-term, and take the time to explain the history of the company. In other words, bring them into the full picture, so they are part of it. If you want to make your employees uncomfortable, don't involve them or let them in on the full picture, which will create wrong assumptions and stimulate gossip. Does an uncomfortable employee do his best work for you?

8. Have regular meetings. Talk about any issues, future plans, previous successes or failures and why. Open up the floor and let their voice and opinion be heard. Create an environment where people are comfortable and willing to express themselves. You will learn much!

Tips & Warnings

• Involve your employees and ask them for opinions and new ideas.

• Let them know they can always come to you in confidence and you will listen and not break that confidence.

• Be likable and yet firm, a person who does what they said they will do.

• Be available with an open door policy.

• Give them a reputation to live up to, rather than a threat if they don't.

• Leave your ego outside. Modesty is a very good policy.

• Express your thanks at every opportunity for doing a good job.

References

• Free Management Library: Building Basic Skills in Management and Leadership