 Print Friendly
 Email to Friend
|
|
Becoming
The Boss
|
|
Article
2: Your Personal Style
You may be a brilliant entrepreneur, but that doesn’t necessarily make you a top-notch people manager. Although you may now loathe some of the chores required in your business, you might also find that you hate even more the responsibilities of managing another person. Before you hire, know thyself.
Effective bosses possess stellar communication skills. They listen to employees and respond with empathy as well as professionalism. They know how to delegate without micro-managing. They negotiate conflicts to win-win solutions and motivate employees through leadership.
If you don’t measure up to that short list of requirements, you can gain the skills through management seminars. Just be sure you’re willing to commit your time, money and energy to the task. And take that step before you hire your first employee to see if your skills as a manager pass the test.
Your role as a manager will also demand that you establish the boundary between a business relationship and a personal one. Maintaining that distance that can be tough when you work in close quarters with a single employee. You can’t let friendships interfere with hard business decisions – such as terminations, layoffs or even performance reviews.
You must also remember that the employee is not the owner. Your new worker generally won’t match your level of commitment to the business. That means you may still be slaving at your desk at 7 p.m. while even the most dedicated employee packs it in at 5 p.m. Will you come to resent the imbalance? Be realistic about your expectations before you hire.
Many entrepreneurs initially chose to go solo as a way to simplify their working lives – from setting their office hours to taking days off spontaneously. If you enjoy the freedom of soaring on your on, hiring an employee could clip your wings.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
