Hey Boss: Do you look at your employees as disposable and useless nuisances? Do you think the people who work for you are lazy and worthless? Do you tell other managers what pieces of garbage work for you? Do you tell your spouse that your people just don’t care?

Guess what? …it’s your fault, not theirs.
(employees, I’ll be hitting you in a later post, so be ready!)

To the bosses:
If your people are useless and negative, it’s because you are a bad leader, period.

A famous Baptist preacher once said, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.”
That statement is true in business, politics and even your personal life.
There are “bad” employees.
I realize there are people out there who are just out to screw over an employer, but it is your job to have a progressive discipline policy intact so you can weed them out quickly, consistently and fairly. Be methodical, and make the right decisions.
Some employees are like a cancer that will spread to others, and you either need to get these people on board by leading them to success, or get rid of them so they don’t drag down the others. You owe it to yourself AND your people to weed out the bad apples. The “good” employees will take notice and respect you for it, as most people do not truly want to work in a miserable environment.
If you are unaware of how to do this, or unwilling to experience the pain and stress involved, then you are the one in the wrong position and should step aside or down.
 

“You GET What You ARE”
Another issue that could be causing your employees to disrespect you are your own work habits, appearance and mannerisms.

• If you arrive everyday to work late, they see that.
• If you call in sick often, they will too.
• If you do not follow company dress code policy, they won’t either.
• If you take frequent coffee and/or smoke breaks, your employees will also.
• If you surf the internet all day checking your email and MySpace, your employees will too.
• And here’s an important one: If you bitch and complain openly about your own boss, your employees will bitch and complain about you.
• This will also shape a negative view of all levels of management in your company, which will eventually come through to your customers.
  
• “What you do to your employees, they do to your customers,” – unknown

How to turn it around
Once you rid yourself of the bad apples, and fix your own shortcomings, it’s time to lead your team.
“A Leader is someone who instills within the heart of the follower, a desire to follow” – Wendell Evans

You should look to invest in your employees. Teach them to be successful and work to help them achieve. Show them how to be like you!
Let them know where they stand by setting proper expectations, and recognize them when they hit or exceed goals.
Finally, find each employee’s “hot button” and push it when appropriate.
A hot button is that one thing that the employee is most motivated by. For some, it’s recognition, others awards, money or time off. Still others just want to know they have job security and the potential to advance.
It’s easy to find a hot button by simply asking and paying attention to unspoken signs.

Remember, Boss, it is you alone who should be shaping the future of your team. They will be what you lead them to be, and that starts with you earning their respect and using it for good.