ClintMaun
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Jan 3, 2011, 12:49 PM
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What Employees Really Want to Tell Their Bosses
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By Clint Maun, CPS
If you’re the boss or in a managerial position, you probably crave for your employees to tell it to you like it is. You most likely want to know what’s on their minds concerning their job, their peers, and the workplace in general. Yet, if your employees are like most, chances are that their lips are fairly tight-sealed. So what’s stopping your employees from being frank with you? In a word, the answer is usually fear. Fear of losing their job, their title, their bonus, their raise, their status, their future. It's a scary thing to talk to the boss.
Although you probably treat your employees extremely well, they are still probably anxious about saying what's truly on their mind. So what are some typical things that employees are afraid to tell you? Below are some common employee concerns for you to consider.
1. “Be specific.” Although most employees don’t like to be micromanaged, they do appreciate specific guidance and direction. There is a big difference between the two, and your employees appreciate your attention to the details.
2. “Tell me what I’m doing right.” When you give employees detailed praise, they understand it, remember it, and work harder for you. Make an effort to point out the specific accomplishments your employees have achieved and tell them how much you appreciate their hard work.
3. “I know my job better than you do.” Although you may know what your employees’ jobs entail, you are not working their tasks day-in and day-out. So, accept the fact that your employees know some aspects of the business better than you do.
4. “If I messed up, tell me about it right away.” No one likes to make mistakes, but we do want to know if we made one. Perhaps nothing is worse than bringing up a mistake six-months after the fact (i.e., during a performance review). Employees appreciate feedback and guidance so they don’t make the same mistake twice; so provide constructive feedback as soon as you spot a mistake or mishap.
Keep these items in mind in your efforts to continuously improve employee communications. By placing yourself in your employees’ shoes, you will be better equipped to tackle the issues that mean the most to them. At the end of the day, you ultimately want to let your employees know that it’s safe to talk to you. So make it clear that they can speak to you without repercussions!
“We swallow greedily any lie that flatters us, but we sip only little by little at a truth we find bitter.”
—Denis Diderot
By Clint Maun, CPS - www.maunlemke.com
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(This post was edited by ClintMaun on Jan 3, 2011, 1:03 PM)
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