What? You Like Your Boss

So you landed the perfect job.  All’s well until you see new line level employees, a change in management, and the promise of stability, soon fade away.  With the large amount of students entering the work force, what makes you different  and what will it take for your employer to hold you there.  Maybe it’s not you.  Try looking at the mistakes your leaders may be making concerning the direction of the company and your part associated with it’s success.

Some top mistakes made by people that command leadership.

Lack of training and or experience.

When did it say that once you receive that gold badge with the title of “Manager” it went under the assumption that you knew it all.  Many people are thrust into that position not knowing what to do.  Often times in your career there will come a time that you know more or have more experience than the person leading the group.  Management should not ever stop training.

Lack of employee appreciation.

In hospitality, for example there are three main cost.  Food, beverage, and labor.  The  most expensive is the recruitment, the training, and the retention of all employees.  This falls squarely on the management of any operation.  Managers should try to hire an employee for the long term.  Productivity from said employee will not be seen for weeks if not longer.Managers must find employees doing something right.  Praise in front of others, reprimand in private.

Lack of effective communication.

Just because a manager said it, doesn’t mean it was passed to all concerned, and if so, understood. Managers  must make an effort to ask question concerning directions given.  If not understood explain again or find someone who can.  Often times we forget the barrieres to this communication.  Language, background, work experience, education; these are but a few reasons why a given message could have a totally different interpretation. 

Lack of compensation, upward mobility, and timely reviews.

Today’s economic conditions have made it impossible to hold mid-level management employment  consistent.  Industry trends show that these jobs are all but extinct.  Upward mobility must take large steps within a corporation, often times due to the elimination of said positions.  Without title changes, compensation is not justified.  Corporations can barely keep up with a cost of living raise and when possible, to those select few.  The majority of staff is just happy to keep their jobs.  Reviews are just another way to say no, and are usually based on the last good or bad thing a manager remembers about you in the past month.  Think about it..you manage 75 people, some you don’t even know by name, but you hold their employment fate in your hands.  All reviews are due tomorrow.   Sound fair.