How to Avoid Biases in Treating Employees
The last thing you want to happen is to see your most valuable employees leave because you are biased towards other members of your team. You don’t treat everyone equally. Whether it is intentional or not, you must do something about it. Here are some tips to avoid the perception of being a biased employer.
Always be conscious of your behavior
Things move quickly at work. Sometimes, you don’t have sufficient time to think about the consequences of your actions. However, it doesn’t mean you should keep doing the same mistakes. Try to be conscious of your behavior. If you notice an error in what you do, change it. Don’t hesitate to apologize or reach out to the person you believe has been offended by your actions.
Improve your hiring practices
You can’t hire employees based on favors. It doesn’t matter if you owe someone else a debt of gratitude. You can repay that person using other means, but not through employment. You will forever favor that person upon joining your team. Better yet, don’t hire anyone whom you know of personally. Rest assured, there are other people who deserve that post and you will stumble upon them soon.
Don’t give the same responsibilities to one person
Sure, you feel like one person stands out in terms of accomplishments. You rely on this person on so many things and you can’t say the same about others. However, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t distribute the responsibilities, including a leadership post. You also want someone else to take charge. You won’t know how responsible someone is unless you give it a try. Besides, running a business always comes with a risk. You don’t want to be too complacent to just one team member. Imagine if that person decides to leave the company. You will most likely be crippled.
Open opportunities to everyone
When there’s a chance for a salary bump or a managerial position, make sure everyone is given a chance. There must be a clear standard in determining who makes it. Information must also be disseminated to ensure that people who want to participate will get the opportunity. You will be surprised with the results. The people you have in mind aren’t even among your finalists. This strategy also allows you to avoid being perceived as a bias boss.
Avoid doing everything in secret
It’s understandable if you don’t want to divulge everything to your employees. Some issues are better left with the people on top. There are issues that you might have to resolve with only a few members since they involve sensitive topics. The problem is if you make everyone blind from the reality. Be as open as you can and don’t leave people in the dark.
Being a biased boss isn’t a good look. Sure, you have the power and you can make whatever decision you want. The problem is it affects the quality of employees working with you and their level of trust.
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