‘I hate my boss!’ ‘How can she even say that to me?’ ‘I am switching my job because I CANNOT tolerate my boss!’ Do these tantrums sound familiar? Have you heard people repeating them off and on? Have you ever pondered on what results in such a high degree of workplace dissatisfaction? A plausible answer is: poor interpersonal skills at work. People up there in the hierarchy might not be able to communicate satisfactorily whatever they are expecting out of their employees with the result that both of them end up in a dilemma and neither is happy with the performance of the other. Therefore, it is imperative for everyone in the organization to be able to effectively get his message across to his subordinate.
My Subordinates Aren’t Happy With Me: What Do I Do?
If you are among the bosses who are scorned and looked down upon, you might have to consider the following questions:
- Do I give my employees enough space to execute freedom of choice?
- Do I even listen to their comments/suggestions/feedback?
- How many times do I have a one on one, face to face interaction with my colleagues?
- Is my tone too soft such that no one actually takes me seriously? Or is it too harsh that people who are unclear on their agenda dread asking me for a clarification?
- Most importantly: Do I treat my employees as ‘humans’?
After you have made a mind map of the above questions, move on to progressing towards improving your relationship with your employees by going on to the next level of interpersonal skills.
I Realize I Am Wrong Somewhere: What Do I Do To Make Up?
If you think you can make a happier and friendlier workplace environment by polishing your interpersonal skills, consider doing the following:
- Try smiling your way through. It will help make your employees sail through the toughest of all the jobs. Add a little humor on top of it too so that the employees know that you aren’t the kind of boss they can never turn to.
- Mouth your words clearly and precisely. Don’t prolong a sentence, making stories out of it- you will lose your audience!
- Make sure you truly feel for what you are speaking. For if you are randomly throwing sentences at people, they have very few chances of being followed up too.
- Set out a distinct line between what you want and what you don’t want- This will help you evaluate the work presented before you too
- Be appreciative: try spreading around positivity. Commend people on what they have done exceptionally rather than focusing on where they had lagged behind. You will, of course, have to tell them where they need to focus, but put it in a subtle way rather than being explicit and rude
- Make sure you are an active listener who does not interrupt while others speak. Give them your complete attention while they are speaking.
The bottom line is: Give respect and take respect! Unless you don’t value people working under you, it is very unlikely that you will succeed in getting the best out of them. Everyone wants to be appreciated- Give them that!