Reply #52: lots of good suggestions here [View All]

[Hamlette]

I especially like "treat your employees exactly like you would want to be treated."

Know that sometimes you need to be tough. If your recovering addict turns out to have not kicked the habit and you need to get rid of him/her, don't hesitate AND don't be nice about it. If you agree to lie about the reason you let her/him go so they can get unemployment, remember you will be paying the bill and it's not cheap. (Been there, done that.) Also, don't let the tail wag the dog. You gotta be in control. If things are not working out, pick up a couple of those pop management books and read about how good managers do it.

The two things to remember when you hire someone: hire someone you know or who knows someone you know or is related to someone you know, chances are they will be a better employee. (It was counter intuitive to me, but studies prove it.) Ask around and see if someone you know knows of someone who needs a job. And hire someone with a sense of humor. Honest. They make the best employees. They can roll with the punches and keep things upbeat. (Usually.)

Also remember your employees will rarely work harder than you do. If they think you do nothing they will too (eventually.)

If an employee tells me something is too hard, takes too long, is useless, I say "great, show me, let me pull up a chair and time you so I'll know exactly what I'm asking you to do and I can help figure out how to get you out of it if it's really bad" (even if I KNOW exactly what I am asking them to do.) Say it in a non threatening manner, like you really want to learn. Then let them get out of it. If they say "well, let me try it again on my own" say, "ok, but let me know if it's still not working." You only have to do it once. You'll never hear that employee (and everyone around that employee) complain again!