Smile, Your Employees Are Watching

Successful management of your business requires effective leadership skills. This we all know. Such skills require us to focus our efforts on training, allocating responsibility, constant inspection, taking responsibility for failure and giving credit to those who deserve it. However, one area that I see frequently violated is managers forgetting that employees are always watching. Employees are also listening to what you say and, just as important, what you do not say. They take their behavioral cues from your words and actions and you must always be aware of this and use this reality to your advantage.

Good managers understand that their employees will react to and adopt the manager’s demeanor. When things are difficult, goals are not being reached, problems are arising, cash flow difficulties are occurring or whatever the problem may be, the manager must always keep the faith outwardly. Demonstrating the “no problem“ attitude breeds confidence and success among your employees. If you show fear, demonstrate aggravation, show lack of confidence, lack of optimism or too much concern with the issue, then this attitude will rock the world of your employee base. “If the boss is worried, we better be looking for another job,” they will soon think. This can create a bigger problem by destroying company morale and will make it very difficult to rally the troops and gather their support as you navigate whatever difficult issues you may be encountering.

The manager must always keep a straight face, handling any issues that are barriers to success and therefore be able to successfully lead his employees through the storm with confidence and assertiveness. No matter how you feel inside, no matter how distressed you may be, no matter how serious the issue may seem, the manager must demonstrate fearlessness. In fact, if you demonstrate a positive attitude, your people will feel comfortable no matter what the situation in, realizing they are in good hands and willing to follow the leader through the maelstrom.

The quickest way to lose control of your workforce, and therefore be unable to overcome adversity, is to demonstrate your inner fear and watch your men scurry for cover, feeling abandoned without trustworthy leadership, worried that they have to take care of themselves (whatever that may mean). It also generates a “who cares” attitude so it becomes more difficult to gain traction as the employees give up because they feel and see the manager showing weakness and being unable to lead effectively. This can continue long after the issue at hand is over and dealt with. It can poison the entire workforce.

It is entirely possible that the issues you are confronting are impossible to overcome in the short run, or are extremely damaging. Irrespective of the degree of difficulty, and even if the employees realize the extreme nature of the problem, if the manager demonstrates fearlessness and optimism, the employee base will still feel comforted and protected and will respond favorably if they truly believe that the boss is rising above adversity. If the boss demonstrates this attitude in the face of danger, even if he personally questions his ability to overcome the adversity, the employees will follow him without question.

Review your performance in this area and adjust it if necessary. There is no room for whining at the management level. Your employees will follow you to hell and back if you demonstrate a “no problem” attitude. Anything can be overcome.