Think about that question. How would you like to
work for yourself? No I do not mean “be your own boss” and all of those other
tired adages. I mean how you would be to work for as a manager. Would you look
forward to getting up in the morning and coming into the office to interact
with you? Would you go home at night and lament to your significant other about
how hard it was to be with yourself? Would you talk with your friends about how
smothered you are by you and not allowed to execute your great ideas on how to
improve the work environment?
Think about things that make great employees. Do you
create the environment for yourself and others that allow those things to
flourish?
Do you strive to learn everything you can about all
parts of the business? To be an active participant and be engaged, you need to
understand what business you are in and how all of the pieces work together to
bring success. Do you allow others to learn the parts of the business you are
directly responsible for or do you try to hold them close to your chest to
maintain perceived value? Everyone having easy access to you and your ideas
creates an environment for you to learn and grow and allows them to do the
same.
Do you treat the company as if it is yours? Do you
act in a fiscally responsible manner? Do you allow others to do the same? Do
you help to resolve issues and allow others to do the same or do you act like a
dictator with nothing but blame and shouting to go around? Do you foster open
communication or do you create an environment where no one thinks they dare
speak out or it would be “off with their head”?
Do you create a feeling of happiness and fun for both you and others
around you? Do you work to become part of the group and allow others to do the
same?
So at the end of the day ask yourself, “Did I like
to work for me today?” If you go a few
days answering “no” then it is time to change something.