Business Education

How Business Owners can Deal with Bad Managers

There’s a plethora of advice for how to deal with bad managers — from an employee’s role. But, little is out there about how to deal with a poor manager for business owners. Entrepreneurs rely on a number of other individuals to make things happen. Everyone onboard is supposed to be onboard as a team. Sadly, there are times when a manager’s style is counterproductive to the larger organization. Fortunately, there are some effective ways entrepreneurs can deal with bad managers.

Bad Managers Undermine Good Employees

You’ve probably heard the old computer software cliche that “garbage in equals garbage out.” Meaning, if the right ingredients aren’t entered, the output will totally reflect its input. This same sentiment goes for your company’s team members. If employees have the right management leadership, their performance will reflect it. However, if that leadership is poor, you’ll get poor results.

Bad management can impact employees and a company’s overall operations. Incompetent managers exist, and they can have challenges relating to staff members and keeping them motivated. In addition, substandard supervisors may not be able to balance budgets, increase revenues or capably perform other crucial tasks. —Houston Chronicle Small Business

It’s a bit more difficult to manage a manager than it is an ordinary employee. Largely because these individuals are experienced and used to managing others — but not necessarily themselves. So, it’s entirely possible for them not to see their own flaws and shortcomings. If an employee under him or her doesn’t produce the right outcomes, a bad manager believes it’s because of the employee and not himself. Of course, this is circular logic and the situation will only worsen over time.

3 Effective Ways Business Owners can Deal with Bad Managers

The good news is there are ways to get a wayward manager back on track. (Or, reform a bad manager into a good steward of their team members.) Here are three effective methods business owners can use to deal with bad managers:

Identify their weaknesses. Okay, this goes under the “obvious” category. But, it’s something that simply cannot be ignored. By getting feedback from your employees and observing him or her in their official capacity, you can pinpoint his or her weaknesses (and strengths). Then, work with them to formulate a plan to help them overcome their weaknesses and rely more on their strengths. Don’t be overly critical. Instead, speak about their shortcomings in a transcendental way and emphasize their strongest traits.
Always strive to set an example. Here’s another bit of obvious — but absolutely necessary advice — always strive to set an example. After all, if you run the company like the infamously bad side of Steve Jobs (who was reputedly a ruthless and hard-driving boss), expect the same behavior from your manager(s). But, run your company as a benevolent yet firm boss and your manager(s) will most likely follow your cue. When you make a mistake, own up to it and do so honestly and humbly.
Give him or her public praise when deserved. This is difficult because it could easily backfire in a number of ways. Still, it’s necessary to bestow praise when and where it is due to encourage others and to foster a sense of unity. Of course, you can’t just praise your manager(s), you must also do the same for your employees.

What other suggestions do you have for dealing with bad managers as a business owner? Please take a moment to share your thoughts and experiences so others can benefit from your unique perspective! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

Like this article?

How to Run a Work-from-Home Business

May 24, 2017 No Comments

The Internet, and more particularly, the world wide web, is revolutionizing so many things in our lives and the workplace is no different. More companies are using telecommuters to work for them, and, they are reaping the benefits of less overhead. In addition, the web makes starting a business quite simple. The biggest problem for a part-time or full-time entrepreneur is being able to effectively manage their time. Those work-from-home commercials and websites leave out many aspects of having a home-based business. While they tout the freedom and no need to endure frustrating daily commutes, they do leave some things out. The devil is in the details and it’s those things you might not think about that can cause you to fail. How to Run a Work-from-Home Business Running a work-from-home business not only takes a lot of entrepreneurial spirit, a vision, and an executable plan, it also requires a heavy amount of self discipline. When you stop to think about it, you’ll realize that having a home-based business means you won’t leave either work or home for the majority of the week. Another phenomenon (read: unrealistic expectation) that you’ll probably face from your spouse is about household chores. When you work outside the home, you don’t take any household appliances with you. The washer and dryer stay in the laundry room and the dishwasher remains right beside the kitchen sink. Ninety-seven percent of entrepreneurs love or like working from home, according to Money Tips.com’s recent survey of 160 successful Americans who run their businesses from home. Most enjoy it so much that 54 percent of them would turn down an offer of free office space just one mile from home. —Inc.com In addition to these, the lawn mower, vacuum, and all those household cleaning supplies won’t mysteriously jump into your vehicle. However, your significant other won’t necessarily grasp this concept, and, will wonder why there’s laundry to fold or dishes to take out of the dishwasher. Any one that runs a home-based business knows that chores are time consuming and just because the office is in the house, doesn’t mean all the chores will get done. In addition to this, you’ll be literally surrounded with distractions. It could be guitars, a game console, television, crafts, social media, or any other hobby or pastime that beckons day after day. If you want to run a successful work-from-home business, you’ll need to do the following daily: Create a schedule and stick to it. There’s a reason you have scheduled work hours when your job takes you out of the home and to a workplace. Do the same for your home-based business: create a schedule and don’t deviate from it. Let your clients or customers know your hours of operation and be available when needed. Get dressed for work. One of the perceived advantages people have about working out of the home is being able to dress down. While you can certainly work in your pajamas or just a tee-shirt and shorts, it does have a strong impact on your psyche, and, it’s not a good one because it promotes procrastination. Dress business casual and you’ll actually feel like it’s a work environment. Take breaks during the day. You do this at any workplace, but, when you start a home-based business, you’ll probably experience an urge to stay put in your office or work space to get things done. You need breaks during the day, so, put these into your schedule. It could be a short walk around the block, or even doing a chore, but these should be regular. Give yourself time off. Because your work and home environment are one-in-the-same, you’ll face the temptation to get this or that done when family is home. Don’t shortchange your family and you’ll find yourself to be a lot happier when there’s a good balance. Get out at least once per week. Don’t make the mistake of chaining yourself to your desk. You can go out to lunch and meet a friend or your spouse, but, be sure to do this at least once per week to keep your professional mannerisms sharp. Another tip you ought to take is to stay focused on your business. Because you might not regularly interact personally with others, your mind will tend to wander and you might get some new ideas to pursue. While it’s wonderful to be creative, you won’t be able to go off in different directions at once — keep your focus or you’ll increase your chances of failing. I just had this conversation yesterday with a Chief Marketing Officer who works virtually, and he enjoys the flexibility. We met at The Henry on Camelback in Phoenix. Personally, I prefer to get dressed, and head to my office with focus on my schedule and priorities. Call me traditional, but my work ethic has been embedded into my habits for over 35 years and it works for me. Now, I also find myself logging in when I get back to my home office. So, one of my incentives is to remain focused and productive at my office during the work week so that my evenings and weekends are free at home. It does take discipline, but this allows me time with my family and to enjoy a balanced life outside of my work. What I do like about working from home, is the flexibility it provides me and my family as well as the flexibility in the services that I can provide for my clients. What is most exciting is the business and career opportunities that our technology gives us. Go out and create your new opportunities … and start from home! Want to find out about what a business coach can do for you? [shareaholic app=”follow_buttons” id=”26833294″]

Tired of New Employees Abruptly Quitting? Here’s a Novel Solution for Recouping Your Training Costs

November 4, 2022 No Comments

One of the most costly and infuriating aspects of running a business is training new employees only to have them up and abruptly quit. It takes a lot of time, effort, and extra expense to onboard new hires and get them familiar with practices and procedures. When they depart shortly after their training, it means having to fill that position all over again. Since this is such a huge hassle and a costly one at that, some companies are actually billing employees who quit. The strategy is to ensure new employees don’t receive critical industry training only to leave and use their new skills at a competitor paying higher wages and/or offering more enticing benefits packages. Companies Recovering Employee Training Costs through TRAPs Healthcare, retail, trucking, beauty, and more companies are adopting a new approach in order to reduce their workforce losses. Known as Training Repayment Agreement Provisions or TRAPs, these clauses are included in employee contracts. Nearly 10% of all American companies are now using these provisions, according to a recent report by Reuters News. When a valued employee quits, the loss can have a detrimental effect on the person’s team and department and maybe even on the entire company. Not only can an unexpected departure lead to lost revenue, but it also could lower the morale and productivity of remaining employees. —Society for Human Resource Management Other industries may follow this emerging trend if it proves successful and legal. There are already federal and state government agencies looking into the practice, and it appears to be legitimate. If it continues to grow in popularity, it should be not only a big benefit to businesses but to employees as well, as both parties will know precisely what’s expected of them and how to proceed accordingly. How to Use Employee Training Repayment Agreement Provisions Because this is somewhat new, it’s very important to take thoughtful, measured steps in order to implement such a practice. Here are some suggestions for how to use an employee training repayment agreement provision in your business: Consult a labor law attorney. The very first thing you should do is to speak with a lawyer who specializes in labor law in your state. Even if a future employee willingly signs such an agreement, there may be something on the books that does not allow you to enforce such a provision. So, be crystal clear it is legal and actionable in your state. Speak with your human resources department. Obviously if you are able to include an employee training repayment agreement provision in your hiring contracts, you’ll need to get the right people in your organization on board and in the know. You can help to develop a new section in your training process that discloses and advises potential hires and new team member about this provision. Make sure new hires are made fully aware of the provision. When you’re recruiting someone new to your organization, be sure this is made abundantly clear before you proceed with follow-up interviews and probably before the very first, initial interview. Any job candidate should be made aware of this provision well before you get deep into the hiring process. Include a mechanism to recoup new employee training costs. Of course, you’ll need a way to actually recoup those training costs. So, if you offer a sign-on bonus, that may be one way to recapture the expense. Here again, you’ll need to consult an experienced, licensed labor law attorney in your state to establish a recuperation mechanism for the provision. What else would you suggest business owners do to deal with new hires who quit shortly after being brought on? Please share your thoughts and experiences so others can benefit from your input! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

How to Deal with Bad, Fake Reviews

August 26, 2020 No Comments

You work hard to give your customers a great experience and earn their trust. You’ve built a great reputation in your industry, but out of nowhere, comes this scorching online review. Aside from its negative connotation, you’re baffled by the fact that you have absolutely no idea who this person is or any recollection of this particular transaction. You quickly conclude that it’s a fake. Even so, others will surely see it and that’s just not good for business. So, what can you do about a bad, fake review? Why Online Reviews Matter Online reviews matter. They matter because people use them to judge the quality of a product or service. This is especially true on the internet because there’s no interpersonal input. Let’s face it, it’s a whole lot easier to read reviews than call and email dozens of people to get their feedback on something they might not even have purchased before. These attacks can have huge consequences for a company’s bottom line. Eighty-five percent of people trust online reviews as much as a personal recommendation and every one-star increase can lead to a 5 to 9 percent increase in revenue. Online reviews are also an important ranking signal in Google’s algorithm. —Forbes This is widely understood and is the exact reason why nefarious individuals write bad, fake reviews. They are obviously trying to discourage others from doing business with the victim company. It’s probably a rival but it could be just about anyone — even someone who is just engaging in a malicious prank. How to Deal with Bad, Fake Reviews Regardless of who it is, you can’t let a bad, fake review hurt your reputation. You must do something about it. But, that doesn’t mean angrily snapping back. Here are a few helpful suggestions for how to deal with a bad, fake review: Report the fake review. If you are certain it’s fraudulent, then contact the website where the review was left, whether it’s Facebook, Google, Yelp, or another. You’ll have to go through a process and it might take a bit of time and effort. So, be prepared for dedicating some resources. Look for more bad impostors. Although you spotted this one, that doesn’t mean it’s the only one floating on the web. Search around to see if there are more because if it’s a concerted effort, chances are excellent there are more. (It might even be duplicated word-for-word on other sites.) Respond, but do so strategically. When you do reply, write something like, “We take our customers’ experiences to heart. Unfortunately, we have no record or recollection of any transaction. If you’ve done business with us, we’ll be more than happy to look into the matter. Please contact [name] at [email] so we can mutually resolve this issue.” This probably won’t cause the fraudster to respond, but it does show you’re willing to take the matter seriously to others. What other suggestions do you have for dealing with bad, fake reviews? Please take a moment to comment so others can learn about your thoughts and experiences! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.