The Management Test Is How You Treat Small Jobs

Bad bosses are everywhere. We’ve all heard the horror stories of some friends and colleagues telling us about their former boss who did this or that. Sure, you may roll your eyes in disbelief or laugh at the absurdity of some situations, but you end up asking the same question at the end of the tale. How did your boss not notice? How can someone not see they’re doing everything wrong? 

While it’s easy to judge from outside, when you’re at the heart of the storm, you may not be able to take a step back and question your own behaviour. Indeed, as an entrepreneur, you are going through a lot of stress and pressure to keep your business going. Not only do you carry your dream of a company, but you also carry the responsibility of many jobs. Needless to say, you’ve got a lot on your shoulders. Of course, it doesn’t excuse nor justify poor decisions and behaviours. But sometimes, the boss is too preoccupied to notice that he’s turning into a nightmare manager. 

You tell yourself that it’s okay. You’re still showing your best side to the influential contacts who can help you move your business forward. You have only upset a few employees; you haven’t ruined your chances of success. Unfortunately, you can’t afford to pursue that line of thought. Indeed, as a manager, you are being judged not on how you treat your equals, but on how you handle those who sit lower in the hierarchy’s pyramid.

The essential manager’s toolkit

You’re the boss, and therefore, your role is to look after your employees. Every single one of them is valuable to your company. Consequently, it’s fair to say that you need to become a figure they can trust to guide them through the workday. One of the most crucial skills in the manager’s toolkit is communication. Too many inexperienced entrepreneurs fall in the trap of broken communication as a result of day-to-day pressure. There can be so much to handle that sometimes they forget to share news and insights with the team. But you need to make it a priority to build an open and honest line of communication with everybody in the business. As a result, the workplace can become more relaxed as employees gain deeper insights into how they fit in the big picture. More importantly, painting a clear picture of your business strategy can help to bring everybody together. More often than not, the strategic direction is only shared with a few lucky selected, while the rest of the employees have no knowledge of the plan and vision for the near future. Making sure everybody, including the small jobs, know what the company has to achieve and how they can support growth helps to create an inclusive environment where everybody feels valued. 

Invest in details that make all the difference

Manual workers rarely receive the appreciation they deserve. Whether they prepare orders for shipping in the warehouse or keep your industrial units clean, small jobs play a significant role in your business growth. Without them, day-to-day processes would collapse. However, some businesses can forget to provide their teams with the best equipment and support they need. Did you know that some manual jobs still require employees to provide their own tools and uniforms? Ultimately, if you want people to know that you care about them, you need to provide the necessary equipment and maintenance. For instance, you can work closely with a partner for industrial laundry services, ensuring that industrial uniforms and other textiles are looked after. Additionally, regular tool checks and replacement should take place. You can’t afford to rely on their skills without giving them the tools and solutions they need to serve the business. As straightforward as it sounds, giving small jobs the necessary equipment tends to get forgotten in practice. 

Everyone has something to say

Let’s be realistic. Nowadays, you’d be hard-pressed to meet someone who doesn’t use social media. The majority of your staff is likely to have either a Twitter, Facebook or Instagram account. It would be obvious to leverage your team’s social media presence to support the business. However, you’d be surprised to know that most companies focus their attention on the most recognisable faces and job titles. Sure, it can help when the head of IT retweet your latest blog about data safety, but it doesn’t create a united front. Indeed, as a boss, what you’re saying to your other employees is that you don’t care about their opinions. In reality, employee social media advocacy is a widely underused strategy. Remember when we said that communication brings everybody together? You can make sure that you share all projects clearly and in layman’s terms. As you team understands the new products or vision, they can also share on social media how their job makes a difference. And suddenly, you’ve got a united front to showcase your expertise.

Give people a reason to stay

Have you heard about Dan Price’s story? Dan Price, the CEO of Gravity Payment – a credit card processing company –surprised the business world in announcing that he would cut down his salary to raise his employee’s pay. Price’s vision is to champion the “little guy and gal in pursuit of the American Dream” by making $70,000 the minimum wage. The company has not only flourished, but employees have also reported huge progress in their personal growth. More importantly, the team has been growing steadily, Gravity Payment enjoying a boost in reputation and employees’ retention. As a result, people are not only loyal, but they are also able to increase their business knowledge and support customers more effectively. You may not be able to offer the same advantage to your employees. However, you can consider improving their lifestyle in many ways, through flexible working options, financial advising, or even emotional support during a crisis – providing by experts acting on behalf of the company

Small jobs matter as they establish a solid ground for the business to grow. As a boss, your team is judging you by the way you treat those who sit on lower hierarchical levels. Making their day-to)day smoother and more enjoyable is all about embracing and appreciating their meaningful contributions.