Business Education

Telltale Signs Your Employees Really Don’t Like You

Whether you’re a business owner, manager, or supervisor, you’re always at risk from becoming a pseudo-pariah. Different personalities can clash and even those which normally get along can become strained. Of course, no matter what types of business you’re in, you need a well-organized team. But, just because you have assembled the talent doesn’t mean you’re getting the best performance. Because when employees don’t like you, they’ll adeptly conceal their feelings.

Best Qualities of a Likeable Boss

The fact of the matter is, employees (and customers alike) are fond of certain qualities. For instance, they like people who are well-organized, respectful, and willing to lend a helping hand. They like people who are honest even when it’s not popular and people who are fair.

Besides all your accomplishments as a business person, are you sure that you are a great boss? This is because leadership skills play a pivotal role in climbing the success ladder. Unfortunately, poor leadership is one of the most common reasons behind businesses falling back with their entrepreneurs earning the tag of bad bosses. Being a good boss comes with plethora of leadership challenges that every entrepreneur has to go through. —Pocket HCM

Likewise, they also treasure integrity, guidance, and humility. What’s more, people love someone who listens and takes genuine interest. Trouble is, you might have many of these qualities but still don’t make a strong connection with your team members. If this is the case, chances are excellent there’s something you’re missing.

Telltale Signs Your Employees Really Don’t Like You

Some business owners, managers, and supervisors believe that ruling with an iron fist is just necessary evil. Others try to strike a balance, being tough but fair. Whatever the case, if you have a notion that your employees don’t really like you, it’s time to look for the following signs:

High turnover rate. This is perhaps the biggest telltale signal. If your organization is riddled with high turnover, you might be the culprit. Solicit feedback from as many team members as possible to learn if you are part or at the center of the problem.
Little to no volunteering. Content employees are eager to volunteer because they enjoy working in the environment, with their coworkers, and boss, as well. A lack of volunteering might stem from the way you run the business. Or, at least, because it’s an uncomfortable environment.
Practically no small talk. If your employees are short on small talk with you, there’s definitely a reason why. Happy employees are happy to chew the fat with their boss. At least, when they believe there’s a good relationship. Simply put, a lack of small talk speaks volumes.
Body language speaks volumes. Speaking of speaking volumes, pay close attention to body language. Eye rolls, crossed arms, fidgeting, no eye contact, no or fake smiling, and more are all telltale signs they’re failing to get their mind and body to agree.

What other signs would you add to this list? How can business owners get honest feedback from their team? Please share your thoughts and experiences by leaving a comment!

Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

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Ways to Build Strategic Partnerships

May 16, 2017 No Comments

There are many ways to build a business, and few are as powerful as establishing strategic partnerships. Ideally, these create win-win scenarios where both parties benefit. The problem with such relationships is they can become more of a burden than a help, particularly when rushed, or, when done with disregard for others. Savvy business owners know the benefit of strategic partnerships, forging an alliance with another entity to provide more products and services to their customers. In fact, a 2014 survey conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers revealed that in excess of 80 percent of CEO’s looked to create such relationships. However, the sad fact about these partnerships is that a 65 percent were actually successful, so, 15 percent of those did not work out. Ways to Build Strategic Partnerships Strategic partnerships are generally sought in order to expand without the cost of an actual expansion. It allows entrepreneurs to tap into resources with existing structures and increase their books of business. Unfortunately, empirical data shows that half of these business relationships fail. The reasons are many, but it can be avoided if you take the necessary precautions. The formula for a successful strategic partnership may seem easy: 1 + 1 = 3. Indeed, partnerships are a proven way to boost the bottom line. American Express surveyed small businesses in government contracting and found that those who teamed up won 54 percent more prime contracts than average. But creating effective alliances is not always so easy. Partnerships gone wrong can lead to frustration, financial losses and even litigation. —Success.com Of course, no amount of caution or preparation guarantees things will work out without a hitch. Small businesses can really benefit from strategic partnerships, but to do so, you have to establish a good rapport and be transparent as to your wants, needs, as well as expectations. Here are some ways to build strategic partnerships that will help your company grow while benefiting your business partner: Know and quantify your abilities and resources. One of the worst decisions to make is to form a strategic partnership without being able to fulfill your obligations. You certainly don’t want to crack egg all over your face. So, don’t put yourself in such a position and know precisely what you can bring to the table and be upfront about it. Even if you can patch together enough to deliver when necessary, you don’t want the stress that comes with this kind of a situation. Be very clear on your “why.” Another huge, colossal mistake, that business owners make is forming partnerships simply to increase their bottom lines. While that is definitely part of the equation, if you don’t go into a relationship with selfish service in-mind, you’re setting yourself up for big time disappointment. Ask yourself honestly why you want to form a business relationship. If you can’t find an answer other than money, you’re eventually going to sabotage your own efforts. Ask for reasons why potential partners want to connect.What’s true for you is just as true for potential partners. Don’t be afraid to ask penetrating questions to get at the truth. If you discover he or she is on a one-way self-serving mission, you definitely need to pass. Seek those with a shared vision and value system. Take it a step further than just asking questions and get to know him or her before you partner. Build a relationship and during that time, you’ll learn their vision and values. Go slow, learn, and take the time necessary to make the right decision. In addition to these, don’t expect miracles to happen after you form a strategic partnership. In fact, you ought to expect to be uncomfortable from time-to-time by getting out and meeting with your strategic partners face to face. There’s just no way to hedge against every possible contingency, but fostering and developing positive relationships will build trust and eventual business between the strategic partners. Want to find out about what a business coach can do for you? [shareaholic app=”follow_buttons” id=”26833294″]

How Businesses can Prepare for Inevitable Change

April 26, 2021 No Comments

Right now, the real estate market is super hot in many parts of the country. (But, totally cold in other sectors.) Currently, builders are experiencing huge disruption due to fast-rising material prices, especially lumber. Meanwhile, take-out restaurants are flourishing in some areas, while others barely hang on. This picture looks like chaos from a distance but it represents the manifestation of the old saying, “the only constant is change.” And, that’s always a threat — or blessing — to businesses. So, read on to learn more about how to prepare for inevitable change. The Change Conundrum When real estate prices rise steeply, people remodel their homes instead of buying. Others take advantage of the market and downsize to capitalize on their equity position. But, it also causes first-time homebuyers to stay out of the market until prices stabilize. When food prices rise, restaurants must make changes to their menus. Of course, higher food prices means fewer sales as people stay home and cook themselves. In today’s ever-changing and often-chaotic business environment, it is imperative for successful organizations to understand how to make change work when everything is changing. These massive changes now require a bold-new paradigm shift away from traditional approaches to how to manage change, to innovative approaches to view organizations as “organisms” with flexible resources, cohesive teams, connected networks, and clear flat structures that can endure in the most turbulent times. —Houston Business Journal The obvious point here is that when change occurs, some businesses benefit, while others suffer. Right now, the disruption caused by the pandemic and shutdowns, along with re-openings, are causing huge changes. The good news is that businesses that prepare can not only survive, but thrive. 3 Ways Businesses can Prepare for Inevitable Change Fortunately, the current environment won’t continue on forever. Lumber prices will fall, inflation will rise, and other economic circumstances will also change. Businesses that recognize what’s going on take action to adapt and can actually make it through or grow by doing the following: Accept reality. Lumber won’t always sell for the price it is now. Home prices will continue to rise, but not at such a rapid clip. Inflation won’t always be a significant factor. In other words, businesses can’t expect the present climate to go on and on and on forever. So, look at what’s on the horizon and don’t procrastinate. Instead, accept reality for what it brings and you’ll be able to cope much better. Plan for change. Once you accept what is changing (or will change in the future), it’s time to start planning to make it through the transition. Think strategically and prioritize what’s most important. This provides a great opportunity to streamline and improve operations. Alter operations incrementally. Speaking of operations, unless you fully expect things to change massively, don’t alter your way of doing business profoundly. Rather, make small, incremental changes to adopt to the changing times so you can always roll things back, if necessary. What other suggestions do you have? Please take a few minutes to comment and share your thoughts and experiences so others can benefit from your perspective. It just might help someone in a big way! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

3 Effective Ways to Beat Zoom Fatigue

March 23, 2021 No Comments

Zoom fatigue?!?! Yes. If you haven’t yet heard, Zoom fatigue is a real thing. The origin of the phrase is obvious. Still, some people are just hearing about it for the first time. Perhaps, because they are experiencing its symptoms. Regardless, Zoom fatigue can be harmful in a number of ways. So, read on to learn how to best deal with Zoom fatigue and what you need to know. What is Zoom Fatigue? Simply put, Zoom fatigue is a phenomenon that causes tiredness, along with worry and burnout. These emotions are due to the overuse of video or virtual communication platforms, most commonly videoconferencing. The symptoms come from excessive amounts of highly intense eye strain. Experts also say people seeing themselves during video chats also causes unnecessary stress and fatigue because their every movement is captured. Do you audibly sigh every time you have to log on to what feels like your thousandth Zoom meeting of the day? You’re not alone. While we’re all more or less used to video calls and meetings being the norm now, the newly coined effect of Zoom fatigue hasn’t gone away. Since working from home is here to stay, video calls are here for the long run too. This makes it incredibly important to find a way to prevent Zoom fatigue from taking over your workday. —Forbes Then, there’s the immobility of videoconferencing. Unlike speaker phone conversations, which are pure audio, people can walk around and think on their feet. But, that’s not the case with video. Lastly, there’s cognition overload, since non-verbal communication interpretation is so much more difficult between parties. All of these can contribute to Zoom fatigue, which leads to negative emotions, as well as poor work production. 3 Effective Ways to Beat Zoom Fatigue Fortunately, there are ways to deal with the digital burnout. If you’re tired of videoconferencing, you are certainly not alone. But, there’s more good news. You can effectively combat the effects of Zoom fatigue by doing one or more of the following: Disable the self-view feature. When you get up in the morning, get ready as you normally do, dressing up as a professional. You’ve done this countless times before and probably continue the habit, even while working remotely. Since you’ve already dressed up and are presentable, there’s no sense in looking in the mirror (or seeing yourself on video). So, turn off the self-view feature, which is one of the single biggest causes of Zoom fatigue. Take regular breaks. Okay, there’s nothing magical about taking breaks. It’s obvious advice. But, it’s also something people forget to do when they’re working virtually because they aren’t in their normal workplace. However, breaks are necessary throughout the day. From time-to-time, take a few minutes to walk around, get outside for a little while, and take regular breaks. Switch communications. If you’re feeling stressed and/or resentful of videoconferencing, then just switch up the way you communicate. Instead of video, use voice conferencing so you have more freedom of movement and can enjoy the benefit of thinking on your feet. What other suggestions do you have to combat Zoom fatigue? Please take a moment to share your thoughts and experiences so others can benefit from your unique perspective. After all, you never know who you’ll help out! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

Telltale Signs Your Employees Really Don’t Like You

Best Qualities of a Likeable Boss

Telltale Signs Your Employees Really Don’t Like You

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Related Posts

Ways to Build Strategic Partnerships

How Businesses can Prepare for Inevitable Change

3 Effective Ways to Beat Zoom Fatigue