When You are A Friend To All, You Are Respected By None

When I was a first official, name plate and business cards and all manager my biggest concern was that my employees liked me. I didn't want them to think of me the way I've thought of managers in the past and I wanted them to know that when I say "My door is always open." By god, I meant it.

What I learned very quickly was that not only can you not please everyone, while trying to please everyone you are upsetting more then you are pleasing. I also realized that when I found my shiny boss spine that the ones you have been working so hard to make sure heard yes more then no weren't really along for the ride for the reasons you thought they were.

As soon as I corrected my own behaviour and found the line between boss and friend the ones that were looking to take advantage of my good nature and kindness towards my staff weeded themselves out. While I did recognize what was happening and correct it I had lost a couple of good staff members to please some bad.

As managers our job is to ensure that not only our business that we have been trusted to run is not only efficient but that the staff is looked after fairly and that they know that they aren't just names on schedule.

We are also there to be sure that the people who we have accepted the responsibility for are ok and while not always happy because that is nearly impossible but know that they are in a safe work environment.

When a manager makes it their mission to be their employees friends they lose the ability manage them properly because while many are happy the ones who are there to really work and earn will lose respect for you and most, like I had done in the past due to poor management, start looking for a new job quickly.

So as we move forward in a world where people are more self aware and self assured in their work environments here is to us, as managers, where we continue to learn as well.