The business owner keeps undermining me. Help!

Dear Aunty B,

I have a problem with the business owner. He keeps overriding my decision-making and it is causing big problems with the business and undermines me to staff.

I will give you some examples of the kinds of things he does.

So yesterday he told a client of ours who is in trouble that he will give him credit, despite my telling the client we won’t give him credit and then he went behind my back to the boss. It’s not like this guy is straight as an arrow because we have already forgiven him a debt. This guy is related somehow to my boss’ wife and he does favours for him.

Other clients also know that if they go to him and whinge he will change the rules for them. I have been in the job for six months and my role is to improve business performance. But how can I when the business owner keeps undermining me?

RL,
Brisbane

Dear RL,

You won’t like this advice. You see, this is what I would do. I would simply go back to that client and tell him there is no credit and that despite him being a friend to the company and a valuable client, there are blanket rules now in place that state that there is no credit – ever. Explain that unfortunately there are no exceptions and that the business owner had a momentary lapse.

Then set up a meeting time with the business owner and go through the new rules with him. Explain why they are necessary. It is not just about one customer but about setting up a professional culture. Be friendly but firm. Stick to those lines no matter what excuses the business owner pulls out of the bag.

Ultimately this meeting will be the start of a new relationship. But be sensitive. Many business owners confuse a business with a plaything. They think it is theirs to run as they want. And ultimately as they bring in professional management, they learn the hard way that they must step back. Of course, this ultimately benefits the business owner because the business doesn’t collapse under poor management, favours to mates and decisions in personal self-interest.

So go for it. You either change it now or understand it can’t be changed, in which case you should plan on leaving within the next six months.

Be smart,
Your Aunty B

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