Being an entrepreneur or a manager is largely about managing people. Sure, there may be some entrepreneurs who fixate on the product and making it perfect. And maybe they have some original ideas which will make a splash in the market. But if you can’t manage the people in your office, then you’re going to have a hard time running your business.
People Are the Same the World Over
Fortunately, people are usually the same the world over. This might seem like a strange blanket statement to make. After all, there are many cultural differences among people. People come from various races, cultures, family backgrounds, socioeconomic classes etc. So there’s a wide variety of people out there.
Everyone Wants Recognition and Appreciation
The one thing that all people have in common is that they all want to be recognized for their efforts. They want their feelings to be taken into consideration. They want to be made to feel special somehow. And if you can come up with a way to do this, then you’re more likely to be successful in running a business.
The Magic Management Formula
So there is no formula that will help you run a business. It’s not just about letting your employees go home at five o’clock, giving them good benefits and listening to their opinions, although all of this is likely to help.
If there is a formula, it’s figuring out what will make your employees feel recognized and appreciated and giving it to them. Is it praise? Is it a raise? Is it more responsibility? Or is it something else that you haven’t thought of? In that case, you might want to consult with that employee and find out what they’re looking for in a job. And most people will be happy to tell you what will make them happier.
Prioritizing Your Employees
So if you have a burning desire to make sure that all your employees are happy, then you will be able to keep them happy. And if this goal is secondary for you, then that’s also going to show in your actions. So it’s important to make this one of your priorities when you’re running your business.
Employees Who Are Never Satisfied
At the same time, there are always going to be people who are not satisfied with anything. When you give them one thing which they say they want, they’ll be satisfied for a short while but soon enough, they’ll want something new. If you have this kind of employee on your payroll, you might want to ask yourself whether they are worth the trouble of keeping on.
Are they geniuses without whom the business would suffer? If so, then maybe it doesn’t hurt to give them what they want at all times. If not, then you might consider letting them go.