What to do When the People
Who Work for You are Jerks

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Published by Rachelle Disbennett-Lee
Friday, February 8, 2002
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I know, we always think of the boss as being the jerk, but if you ever managed people, you know it is a two way street. Everyone is someone's difficult person. The best thing to do as a manager is figure out how to best manage each person.

One thing I learned early, as a manager, is that some people do not respond to the same thing in the same way. Treating everyone the same is the best way to cause problems. As a manager, one must figure out how each person wants to be treated and treat them accordingly. That doesn't mean that there are different rules for different people. It means that each person has a different personality and will need to be approached differently. One employee may accept the rules as they are. Another employee may need to know why the rules are the way they are. As a manager, prepare to adapt and modify your behavior to match that of each member of your team.

Be honest and open with your team. Don't try to hide things. Tell them what you know. If you don't know, tell them that too. If you cannot tell them, explain why you cannot share that information. People simply want to know that, as the manager, you know and have things under control. If you earn their trust, they will follow you.

Don't play favorites. If some people can be late or slack off and others get in trouble for it you, the manager, are going to have a difficult time. You will spend more energy herding than leading. Everyone must follow the same rules and receive the same discipline. I once worked for a boss who let his girlfriend do anything she wanted all day long while everyone else picked up the slack. It caused animosity among the team and destroyed all loyalty toward the boss.

Remember, you are the boss and not everyone's best friend. Let go of the need to be liked. As the boss, you will not always be liked. Create an atmosphere of fairness, honesty and commitment and though some will dislike you, all will respect you.

Document. Document. Document what the people on your team are doing. This becomes more important if you have a person who isn't following the rules. Keep track of disciplinary actions and the support you have provided to the employee. If you have to fire the employee, it will be necessary to have detailed documentation of the process that led to the dismissal.

The worst thing in the world isn't getting fired. Firing a subordinate is much worse. It usually is the most challenging thing a boss has to do. But, if the employee isn't performing, this lack of performance is most likely hurting not only the company, but also your entire team. I look at firing employees as a way to allow them to find jobs better suited to their talents.

Create a strong support system for you outside of your company. Hire a coach to help you lead your team and prepare you for your next promotion in this company or another. Have a group of other managers, not employed by your company, who can lend an ear and give objective opinions. It is important that you have someone you can talk to and trust outside of the company. This way you will be able to vent frustration and explore global options without it going anywhere.

Coaching

Being a manager is the most challenging job I ever had and continues to challenge me. The good news is that, with the view that everyone can help everyone and that we are all in this together, it becomes a fun challenge.

Be honest with yourself about what your strengths and weaknesses are as a manager and work on developing your strengths and delegating your weaknesses. If you know you are not good at something, don't be afraid to have others support you in that area. Good managers surround themselves with people who have the strengths they lack.

What is one thing you can do today to improve your management skill? (Even if you don't have others working for you, you are the manager of your own life.)

Daily Success Formula

Learning to lead from one's strengths = A Good manager

Quotes

"A good manager doesn't try to eliminate conflict; he tries to keep it from wasting the energies of his people. If you're the boss and your people fight you openly when they think that you are wrong, that's healthy." Robert Townsend

"By working faithfully eight hours a day, you may eventually get to be boss and work twelve hours a day." Robert Frost

"I've always found that the speed of the boss is the speed of the team." Lee Iacocca

"No man goes before his time -- unless the boss leaves early." Groucho Marx