What Are the Four Top Things Your Staff Hates About You as a Boss?

What Are the Four Top Things Your Staff Hates About You as a Boss?

According to a recent LinkedIn Learning Survey of 3,000 employees, here are the four top gripes about bosses:

1)  having expectations that aren’t clear or frequently change;
2)  micromanaging;
3)  the boss is unavailable; and
4)  the boss is not fostering professional development.

Of course, we’ve all had bosses that we loathe and some of us have been bosses that others want to avoid. How do you make sure that you don’t commit one of these sins?

What Should You Do?

• Set clear expectations. Make sure that you are organized before you give out assignments. Do a “listening check”. Ask people to repeat back what they think they heard. Ask if things are not clear or if there is anything else they need to succeed on a project. Perhaps even ask them to email you  after your meeting what they think they are supposed to be accomplishing. Prepare to be depressed! You’ll think human communication is hopeless, but it will improve your communication skills.

• Stop micromanaging. I’ve written before about how to avoid micromanaging and how to handle a micromanager.

Do You Know Why Micromanagement is Bad for You As Well as Your Staff? How to Manage a Micromanager

The basics of my advice include understanding that we usually micromanage as a way of dealing with our own anxiety. If we can treat that, we won’t dump our stress onto our staff. Adopt a stance of trusting your people until they mess up, rather than the opposite. If someone consistently under performs, engage in performance management until they improve or else move them out of the organization.

• Be available. You may be traveling, meeting with your boss or just an introvert who hides in the office doing her own work. No matter what your excuse, you need to get out there and follow that old Tom Peters’ adage of “managing by walking around.” Set regular one-on-ones with your staff – at least monthly and preferably once a week if you have tight deadlines – and keep your office door open when you can.

• Prioritize development. Most of your people want to improve their skills. Give them that chance through formal classes, time with you or other experts, books and so on. Don’t fear that they’ll leave you if they become more proficient at what they do, surveys show that development opportunities have the opposite effect: you will improve their loyalty to you.

You may never be a perfect boss, but if you can avoid these traps, you’ll become a better one.