| Is "walking the talk" a tired old cliché | | | | compassion by being flexible with hours and |
| or a bold new concept? Very few managers | | | | time off so they can tend to family |
| today are receiving formal management | | | | emergencies or illnesses. |
| training. As a result, many are poor | | | | |
| communicators and weak in their delegation | | | | -Be a mentor and coach by sharing your |
| and leadership skills. | | | | knowledge and experience. Explain to them how |
| | | | business decisions were made, especially when |
| According to a Gallup poll, 25% of U.S. | | | | it involves them. |
| employees would fire their bosses if they | | | | |
| could. Why? Because many managers set high | | | | -Trust your employees and be willing to |
| service standards for their employees, yet | | | | delegate projects based on their strengths. |
| fail to abide by those same standards. | | | | If you tend to be a control freak, learn to |
| | | | let go and get out of the habit of |
| If you are a manager, you are in an excellent | | | | micro-managing people. |
| position to lead by example. Your employees | | | | |
| will only respect your authority if they | | | | -Let your employees know they're valued. |
| observe your excellent customer service | | | | Smile at them, be approachable, remember the |
| skills on a daily basis. Customer loyalty | | | | names of their family members and sincerely |
| must be a top-down initiative. | | | | thank them every chance you get. |
| | | | |
| Here are five ways you can earn greater | | | | The only times that employees can |
| respect and increase employee loyalty: | | | | successfully challenge your authority is when |
| | | | they see that you are not practicing what you |
| -Always give performance reviews and salary | | | | preach. Keep in mind that your employees are |
| increases on the promised dates. Employees | | | | your primary customers. Treat them with the |
| have those dates memorized. They won't feel | | | | same respect and caring service that you |
| valued and will resent you if their review | | | | deliver to your external customers. Remember |
| dates are postponed or forgotten | | | | that you set the tone for your entire |
| | | | department. Your employees are watching you! |
| -Have empathy for your employees. Show | | | | |