How to Change Misconceptions About You as the Company Leader
It’s hard leading a company when you realize that your employees think poorly of you. They have different ideas about who you are, and most of them are untrue. It could have been due to the image you project. If you don’t want them to keep thinking that way, these are a few things you need to do.
Open channels of communication
The reason why your employees seem to misunderstand you is that you don’t even talk to them. They have no idea about who you are and what your values are. They only rely on how they see you and your overall demeanor. Try talking to them randomly and have a chance to get to know them better. Inform everyone if they need you about anything that you can be of help, you’re one phone call or email away. Don’t worry that your kindness will be abused. You’re talking to professionals. They will use the opportunity to reach out to you wisely. Besides, opening lines of communication isn’t a signal to start friendships or establish a special bond.
Join gatherings outside work
Another way to change perception of you is to join gatherings outside work. The employees only know you based on how you act at work. They have no idea who you are outside the workplace. If someone invites you to a birthday party, you can show up. It will surprise your employees. They will also realize that you’re not a snob. You can still maintain professionalism even during informal parties. The point is that you show up and send a message that you’re not just the boss.
Leave thank you notes
Some employees think you’re terrible because you don’t appreciate them. You don’t say thank you or good job even if they believe they had an excellent outcome. It helps if you leave thank you notes if you’re too busy to reach out to everyone. The point is that you show how much you appreciate the employees in your small ways.
Suspend judgments
You might find employees who hate you because you seem to look down on them. You see yourself as the boss and they’re not important to you. The sad truth is that you’re probably a judgmental leader. You don’t have any regard for your employees. Try your best to suspend judgments and treat everyone equally. Every employee matter, and can contribute to the success of the business.
Hopefully, these tips are enough to change how they view you. If nothing changes, it means you’re not doing enough. You might say that you don’t care about what others think about you. On a personal level, it might be a good guiding principle, but not professionally. The perception of your employees matters a lot since you work with them. You don’t want them to leave because they feel unhappy with their boss. They also dislike your leadership style.
Photo Attribution:
1st and featured image from https://1zl13gzmcsu3l9yq032yyf51-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/national-boss-day-today-tease-151016_c50ae91c8efb8bbd4615fe8c36a26347-1024×576.jpg
2nd image from https://www.theceomagazine.com/business/management-leadership/growing-business-in-asia/
