There’s something scarier than the haunted houses and hayfields typically so popular this time of year: An office environment in which leadership is lacking, and employees are looking for the door.
Do managers in your company uplift and guide employees? Is feedback welcomed or discouraged? How can you tell if your company culture is creating a chilling effect on your workplace?
Here are some symptoms to watch for:
1. Lack of respect.
It used to be that workers respected their managers because that was just how it went. That also meant a lot of people didn’t have respect from their employees; they caused fear and resentment. Respect is earned, not demanded; a lack of respect from a manager toward employees will breed anger and contempt and will likely lead to turnover. It’s a two-way street. Treat your employees with respect, and you’ll receive it in return.
2. Communication breakdown.
There are undoubtedly some projects and bits of information that need to stay under wraps among managers — personnel issues, merger or acquisition deals, financial issues, etc. But other things, like new projects, new hires, even day-to-day achievements, should be shared with everyone. People get a sense of secrecy, and it makes them uncomfortable like there’s a problem. The more tightly something is kept under wraps, the higher the stress and dissatisfaction level grows.
3. Lost leadership.
Employees and teams look to their leaders for guidance, direction, and insight. If their questions aren’t answered, or any instructions provided are confusing or contradictory, employees don’t know what to do or which way to turn. A little clarity and consistency go a long way toward employee satisfaction and a stable work environment.
4. Lack of vision.
If a manager tells someone, for example, to acquire a large quantity of concrete but doesn’t explain why the employee might not take the task seriously or complete it at all. If that same manager tells the same employee to acquire a large quantity of concrete because the company wants to build a patio so workers can enjoy their breaks outside, suddenly it’s a fun task with a big reward for everyone at the end. Employees who feel they’re part of something or that they’re working toward a very clearly defined goal are more likely to be engaged and involved in the process and not just shrug things off with no further consideration. Let people know how projects fit together and why their role is essential.
5. Disregard for safety.
When workers are maneuvering and operating heavy machinery, or working near those machines, everyone’s safety must be paramount. If safety standards or requirements start to slip, it can mean dangerous conditions for everyone. It might be expensive to regularly and adequately maintain the equipment or to ensure all employees who need it are properly trained and certified to operate the machinery, but consider the alternatives and pay up to keep the workplace safe.
Don’t let bad or lazy practices contaminate your office. The sooner these bad traits can be identified, the sooner they can be fixed, preventing an outbreak of zombie employees from breaking out at work.
Scare Away Your Company’s Bad Habits
Here at Debbie’s Staffing, we’re happy to help serve as your personal ghost busting crew. Call us today to get started on scaring away the bad habits.
