Managing Employees in this Economy

My friend has the best sign in her office.

Remember...

Your most valuable resources drive away at the end of every business day, and it is your job to make sure they are eager to return the next morning.

As a manager you should commit the above message to memory. You can accomplish nothing as a manager if you don't have employees who are willing to walk through walls for you.

When I became a General Sales Manager of two Radio Stations at the age of 26 I knew I had a lot to learn. I would learn through doing but I also wanted to gain perspective fast. I hit the bookstore and luckily found what I believe to be one of the best books for managers..."First, Break All The Rules" by Marcus Buckingham & Curt Coffman.

The book was based on research done on over 80,000 managers to figure out what traits were shared by highly successful managers. They found that the only shared trait by successful managers is they don't follow rules...they get the job done. Oh they do share one trait and that is understanding the value of their employees.

When the Economy was humming along it was easier for sucky managers to succeed. In these tough Economic times the companies who succeed are the ones who have GREAT managers.

Now is the time for managers to start caring about their employees again or as soon as the job market turns around they will be gone. The following are some key points I believe managers must remember during these tough times to ensure productive employees:

• Treat them as people
  
• Get to know them
  
• Discover what they want to achieve Professionally and Personally
• Allow room for mistakes since that is how they grow
• DO NOT MICRO-MANAGE!
  
• Hire the right people and let them do what they do best!
  
• Set realistic expectations
  
• Praise GREAT work!
• Provide the right resources to do the job effectively
• Constantly Motivate
• Say Thank you
  

The above list probably seems simple but how many managers are running so fast they are forgetting the basics...their people. Focus on your employees now so you don't lose them later.

REMEMBER: Employees usually leave companies because of bad managers NOT bad companies.


Mello