According to a Gallup survey around 24% of employees in the United States would fire their boss if they could. If you’re an employee, you may already be smirking at the thought of firing the head honcho! If you are the boss, what percentage of your employees do you think would give you the flick if they could?
Here five things a boss can do to stop being “virtually” fired.
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Quickly write down the top five words you would most like your employees to use when describing their boss to a friend or family member. Then write down the five words you’re afraid they may actually be using!
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Have your employees anonymously rate you every time you rate them (that is, performance review time). It’s scary as heck, but a great way to get essential feedback on the areas you need to improve.
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Give great exit interviews. Do everything to find out the real reasons why your staff leave.
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Encourage feedback and act on it. Become known as the boss who can not only take it when someone provides constructive criticism (in a respectful way) but the boss who will actually amend policy and behaviour when required.
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Listen. When you know that your staff are whining – that’s a sign to listen. When you know that your staff are actively looking for other jobs – that’s a sign to listen. When your staff up and leave and you have no idea they’re looking for other employment – that’s a sign to listen.
Kirsty Dunphey is the youngest ever Australian Telstra Young Business Woman of the Year, author of two books (her latest release is Retired at 27, If I can do it anyone can) and a passionate entrepreneur who started at age 15 and opened her own real estate agency at 21. Currently Kirsty heads up www.reallysold.com the premium online copywriting site for real estate agents and is a co-director of Elephant Property www.elephantproperty.com.au Launceston, Tasmania’s only boutique real estate agency purely for investment property owners. Kirsty’s other ventures are outlined at her website www.kirstydunphey.com where you can also sign up for her newsletter.
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