Over the years I’ve worked a pretty wide range of jobs. I’ve worked in a barn, directing people towards the exits and bathrooms… I’ve worked as an artist on video games, and I’ve also worked in warehouses, both as a shipper/receiver, and as a supervisor as well.
What I’ve noticed is that no matter what company, no matter what kind of job, there are almost always some common, completely unnecessary problems with how the company is run.
My Humble Suggestions for Bosses Everywhere…
If a piece of equipment, software, whatever, needs to be purchased, buy it as soon as financially possible. Though you obviously need to use a bit of common sense here, your staff are probably requesting it for a good reason. Does your product photographer need a $1000 Photoshop license to properly edit the thousands of photos you’ve sent their way? Buy it. Does the sales manager need better call management software? Get them that expensive system that makes no sense to you, but that your manager assures you will increase sales substantially. Which brings me to my next point…
Trust your staff to do the job you hired them to do. When you hire a person, often times you’re doing it because they possess a certain skill-set that you do not. Don’t try and micro-manage them, and don’t tell them how to program, design, or anything else when you have absolutely no clue what you’re talking about. Let them do the job, and then if they truly mess up, talk about it. What they’re doing may seem pointless and confusing to you, but there’s probably a good reason for it.
Accept that people are going to slack sometimes. Yes, you’re paying them to do a job, and yes it can be a bit annoying, but they’re absolutely, most definitely going to do it anyway. They’re human just like you and probably won’t be able to cold call clients for 6 hours straight no matter how much you’re paying them. Accept it as part of being a business owner and don’t give them too much shit about it unless they’re truly and consistently lazy. Taking little breaks actually makes people work harder when they do, and produce better work.
Don’t ever talk about how rich you are, especially in a way that you think makes you sound humble. Believe me, it just breeds resentment. And in a similar vein…
Don’t act like you’re doing people this huge favor by hiring them. This is especially true of low paying jobs, and it never ceases to be obnoxious. Yes, you’re paying someone to do a job, and in return THEY’RE DOING THE JOB. You’re already making way, way more money than they are, so stop it with the not-so-subtle “So many people are looking for jobs these days… people should really be thankful to have work…”.
Always allow people some upward mobility, even if it’s just token. People who feel like they’re trapped in a position with no chance of ever advancing are not going to be good employees, period. They’ll get annoyed, quit, and move on to greener pastures, which means you having to re-hire and train new people, which is expensive. If you want to keep them in their current position just because they’re really good at it, too bad, and you deserve to have them quit on you.
Show your appreciation sometimes. A simple “thank you” or “nice work!” goes a long, long way. It costs you absolutely nothing, and your employees will love you for it. Remember, it’s not just about the money.
Not that complicated, eh?
Aside from the practical necessities of having to buy new resources and equipment, you may notice a trend here: most of these things cost you absolutely nothing. How often can you get something for nothing these days? It’s pretty rare, but I promise you… give some of my suggestions a try, and you’ll reap the rewards in spades. Your employees will love you, and when employees are happy, you’ll make more money, and you’ll be a lot less stressed too.
(Photos by Jem Yoshioko and Justin Matlock)
