Startup Guides > How To Be A Better Manager - 4 Tips

This topic may be controversial, but it's a dilemma all high-performing managers grapple with: You want your employees to perform at their best, but there's a fine line between being a tough manager with high expectations and being an unreasonable a**hole. Here are 4 tips to ensure that you're on the right side of the line and don't lose your best workers:

1) Give your employees a reason to give a crap.

It can be tough if you're providing a commodity product or service versus curing cancer, but everyone is in business to serve a need, so make sure your employees understand that. Why do their jobs matter? Why is what they're doing today important to customers? What happens if they succeed or fail? Clarifying the importance of what your workers do helps employees stay focused and committed, even when the demands are great.


2) Appreciate different working styles.

Be clear about the outcomes you expect, but don't create conflict just because your employee has a different style of getting things done. Are they effective? Do they get the job done? At the end of the day, the answers to those questions are what really matter.

3) Give them some props and kudos.

When you've set rigorous performance goals or expectations employees must meet, don't change the rules after the fact or fail to recognize good work. Make sure you outline your expectations in job descriptions, team meetings, and one-on-one meetings. Conduct regular performance reviews and be sure to acknowledge when expectations have been met or exceeded. Whether it's a simple "nice job" in front of the team for hitting a tough deadline, or tickets to a basketball game as a reward for landing a big new client, recognizing a job well done enhances motivation.

4) Show respect to earn respect.

You're a demanding boss... Everyone gets that. But, regardless of how demanding you are, treat your employees with the respect and dignity that you expect from others. Bad office behavior such as screaming, yelling, lying, and any kind of abuse hurts productivity and will lead to losing your best employees.

If your team is rapidly dwindling instead of expanding, then your employees are probably giving you the proverbial middle finger, and your poor management style is probably why.

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