Managing Others Can Sometimes Be Challenging

There are also thousands of different business types and business models. You would be a fool to think that you can manage a PR company the same way that you manage a tyre factory. So here are some tips and techniques that are broad enough to apply to as many management styles and market industries as possible.

Never say sorry unless you are actually in the wrong

Some people have a terrible habit of using the word sorry, and the worst thing is that they do not realise how damaging misusing the word it. It is far worse if you are a manager because it is an opening that allows employees to dominate you. If you tread on a person’s foot then apologise. If a customer shouts at your staff member and makes the staff member cry, do not say sorry to the staff member. Do not say sorry for not being out there or sorry for placing the staff member in that position. Only say sorry if you are truly at fault. There are managers out there who will say sorry if another person interrupts them. These are the managers that staff members find impossible to respect.

Learn to close your office door

Putting a physical barrier between you and your staff has a very subtle psychological effect. You may be the most approachable manager on the planet, but every now and again, you should close the door to your office and spend time in there alone.

You can be friends with the staff who know their boundaries

Many management experts will tell you that you cannot be friends with your staff, but you can be friends with the ones who know their boundaries. Some people understand that even though you are friendly inside and outside work that you still hold a position of power and may be forced to discipline or fire them one day. The team members who do not understand this will often be personally offended if you discipline them, or if you order them around, and those are the staff members with whom you cannot be friends.

Here’s what you say when an employee threatens to quit

Every now and again, a staff member is going to threaten to quit. There are many ways of dealing with this, but none that is as effective as this line, “Well, that is something for you to think about.”

Even though this line seems fairly passive and pointless, you will be astounded at the results. Not only does it diffuse the situation, but nine times out of ten, the employee will catch up with you later and apologize.