Throughout the years, it seems that more and more books on leadership and management have emerged. Why? Well, it appears that the majority of people in the workforce may be fully aware of the lack of leadership around them and, thus, feel the need to educate themselves. They may not feel safe nor confident obtaining these tips from their own leaders. If you’re in a position of authority, you may not be aware of your faults. Therefore, keep reading to learn about the top three ways that leaders might accidentally be mistreating their employees.
They Underutilize Employees’ Talents
As cliché as it may sound, your employees are the most valuable resource your business has. However, leaders often like to micromanage their teams, and thus, the most talented and skilled are pushed down. It is widely known that employees who work on a project that they are passionate about and actually good at it will produce better results for the company. So how can you make sure that your employees are being utilized correctly? The most direct and straightforward approach is to simply empower your employees to think and share their input. Over time, their unique skills will surface to the top.
They Cut Corners on Workplace Safety
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs names safety as one of the most important basic needs a person requires to live a fulfilled and happy life. Many employers will often cut corners when it comes to safety in order to save time or money. However, they do not understand that by doing this, they are placing their workers in hazardous conditions as well as opening themselves up to the potential for legal ramifications in the future. One of the best ways to be proactive is to provide someone, or even yourself, the ability to recognize potential dangers in the workplace. While not legally required, someone in the organization should get OSHA-10 certified and be put in charge of implementing a workplace safety policy.
No Recognition
There’s a myth that states that people are more motivated by monetary gain than simply from compliments. Although that is true to a certain extent, it does not equate to why employees often perform at a lower level than what they are capable of. In fact, Gallup polled over 4 million people and found that employees who received regular recognition and praise produced much better results, were more likely to stay long term and were genuinely happier people.
In the end, being a great leader is about listening, being proactive and making sure that your employees are taken care of. Only those who demonstrate excellent leadership and treat employees with respect will continue to see great results from their employees.
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