My employees say I' m too direct and abrupt?

Question

I manage a multimillion dollar business with 23 facilities nationwide. My employees say that I am too abrupt and direct when answering questions. The previous manager was very "family" oriented and but we barely broke even every year. If my management style has increased sales 4000 % over the past four years why should I change it? The results speak for themselves. We have a lot have managers who are older than I but who never put up any numbers until I put my foot up their ****. We have weeded out the below average performers and increased the sales of the mediocre performers. They are all making more money than they ever have and I make every attempt to leave them alone unless there's a problem. What I don't want is a general dissatisfaction with my employees because I do care about them and their families. Any suggestions as to what I may be able to do without compromising performance.

Thanks XAviator. Your insults and the fact you did not answer the question shows a lot. This is actually a good forum that offers a diverse cross section of advice. I guess that's why u r here?

Answer 1

I have never managed a multimillion dollar business, but I have been a successful supervisor. Perhaps the problem isn't your management style so much as your manner of delivery?? Whenever I've told a superior they were abrupt and direct, I really meant, "You're rude as hell and it's not necessary to make your subordinates feel as if they are incompetent idiots." You can give employees some fairly harsh news, but if you say it with a calm voice and without condescension - the news is taken much better. I worked with a gentleman who thought he had to rip everyone a new bottom to be taken seriously. We both had employees who were not pulling their weight. His response was to get in the employee's face, talk to him as if he were a child and tell him how worthless he was to the company. When I spoke to my employee, I never raised my voice: "Bob, your level of sales is at point C when it should be at point A. I have complete confidence in your ability to fix the problem. You know what needs to be done and you have X number of weeks to reach that goal. The next time we talk it will be to offer congratulations or to tell you I have to let you go. Any questions?" I never raised my voice or "put my foot up his ****". I don't know where you're from, but I'm from the South and my grandfather (who DID manage more than one multimillion dollar business) always taught me you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. Next time you're told you're too abrupt, ask your employees how they would have handled the situation. Knowing that their opinion matters to you will help you appear more human and caring. Employees who BELIEVE you care about them will work much harder for you than ones that don't.

Answer 2

By your question, I can tell that you have a good heart. I suppose your employees know that or they wouldn't have the nerve to tell you what they think of your management style. If they are benefiting monetarily because you're making the right moves, I suspect you won't have any of them jumping ship. It is your employees who should be questioning why they demand velvet glove treatment. You're running a business for heaven's sake! My advice would be to have some social events planned when you can let your warmer side show without jeopardizing the company performance. In fact, you just might find that adding that dimension after hours, might result in an improved bottom line when everyone is singing from the same song book. Good luck!

Answer 3

You have to go out of your way to be positive as well. If you put your foot up their a ss one day, then you have to make sure that you follow that up with a few "atta boys" a few days later when the results show.

Also, throw a party or two for everyone, take 'em out to happy hour or something. Send a top performer on a trip somewhere. Take the office out to dinner. You have to overcompensate in otherwords for the abruptness of your day to day style. And even tell them, "hey everyone, I want to thank each and everyone of you for everything you put into your work lives, I wouldn't be here w/o you, and even though I don't always say or or show it, I thank you from the bottom of my heart." That shows them that there is another side to you, and they one they spend 10 hours a day with is just how you get the job done. People are more likely to give you the benefit of the doubt when they can see that side of you.

And every now again, when someone asks you a question, go out of your way to add some flowery language and soften the tone to it.

Answer 4

'Have you ever thought about enrolling in some leadership classes?You should.What your employees have to say is important to them,and should be important to you as well.If many say you are too abrupt and direct(and it does not sound as if you are denying this)then you are!You don't have to put your foot up their **** to get good results.You should work on being their leader,not their "boss".You leave them alone unless there is a problem?Why?Give them a pat on the back when there is no problem.Show them genuine gratitude.I am also a manager of a very successful company.It is successful because we work as a team.There is no team if the leader goes around putting a foot up ****'s.Would you want to be on a team,whose leader,felt the only way to get you to do a good job,was to put a foot up your ****?You wouldn't have a business to manage if not for your employees,Show them some respect.If your " management style" has increased sales 4000%,imagine the sales increase you would have if you included your employees.They ask you questions because they need answers.You should answer with respect.Dont make them dread asking you.Make them want to ask you,because they respect you and value your input.Sounds like you know how to manage,but do you know how to excel?

Answer 5

Bottome line is, You've improved the Bottome line. You will never be able to keep every single employee happy, no matter what you do. Lets face it, once you become to friendly with an employee, or show that they may have an angle to work if they ever need, they will take advantage of it. What you have been doing is great for business, it is afterall a place of business. If you feel the need to reach out to them or feel that approval from them, thats another thing. You may try to have company picnics, or company dinners and give out awards to you top performers, make sure its a family event.

Answer 6

Maybe there are times that you should be abrupt and put your foot down or nothing gets done in any kind of business. People might complain because there are a lot of employees that they are just fine where they are and they dont want to make any efforts to help the company grow. Well they get paid the same amout of money anyway; why shoud they bother?

Answer 7

I work at home for an attorney but once a week I go into the office. My boss is very abrupt also. He is not the nicest person in the world, but he is who he is. He is very successful. And if for some reason I can't go into the office due to child illness or something going on at my daughter's school, he is totally cool with it.

I say, it sounds like you are doing great at your job, so I wouldn't change a thing. If people that work for you are that uphappy they will leave - this doesn't seem to be the case though. And as long as you are understanding with them when something does come up. But I say, don't change who you are!!

Answer 8

You sound pretty proud of your performance....which is not necessarily bad.....but you did not increase sales by 4000% (??) all by yourself. You need to share the credit with those who helped you achieve this expansive growth. Keep in mind that just because you are making more money does not mean that people are more content and happier in their jobs. As the saying goes, money does not buy happiness. Your employees have obviously busted their asses but is it a maintainable pace? Are you going to just burn people out one by one? Give them some perks other than "more money". Acknowledge them, the sacrifices they have made (extra time working to reach goals, taking time away from their families), the loyalty they have shown you and the company. Give them the respect they have earned and deserve and in turn you will earn the same. You make being a "family oriented" company sound like a bad word. I'd much rather work for a company that had respect for me and allows me to put life's priority in the proper order....family first!...without feeling like I was being disloyal to my employer.

Answer 9

You can try to soften the way you say things. I have a similar problem, and I'm trying to work on it all the time. If they are saying you're too abrupt and direct, then perhaps asking them leading questions, or adding some please and sincere thank you's when speaking to them- that can go a long way. It also might be helpful to always provide an explanation as to why you are asking for whatever you are asking of them. Someone just gave me great advice on this site for a similar question I asked: it was to smile more.

Answer 10

You say, and I quote, "The results speak for themselves."

Employees saying you are too direct and abrupt, isn't that results also?

The numbers you post would not be there if not for your employees and I understand you say they are making more. That's great, however do not loose site of the fact that end the end, the numbers are just numbers. People are what really matters.

I'm sure you are an intelegent person, so you figure out what you need to do.