The late comedian Rodney Dangerfield won popularity with the catchphrase “I get no respect.” But it’s no laughing matter when you’re the boss. If you are in a management position, there’s a good chance you’ve had pet peeves regarding your employees and their behavior. What you may not realize is that your staff probably has a few complaints about you too.

Often these complaints can be unreasonable. You must accept that you can’t always make everyone happy, but it’s important to know what you can improve on as a leader. When your staff respects you and the way you manage, it improves morale and your business.

To improve your management style, make good on these common employee complaints:

1. You come to work grumpy.

If the moment you walk in the door, you are rude or give off a negative attitude, it may affect your employees’ moods and result in low productivity or bad customer service. Be a positive influence on your staff. Start the day with a joke or humorous anecdote. And don’t complain about the previous day or grumble about the morning traffic.

2. You micromanage the staff.

Excessive attention to detail can hold back the growth and development of your business and your staff. Employees who are micromanaged lose confidence and become timid, discouraged and frustrated. Attention to detail is a positive trait of any owner or manager, but if you’re correcting every little detail, you’ll hurt your performance and theirs. Instead, delegate work and hold people accountable. Create a system in which employees can keep you updated on their work. They won’t feel you watching their every move, but you will still be able to stay updated on their progress.

3. You are too “hands off” and don’t hold employees accountable.

It’s also possible to be too “hands off” with employees. Good leaders coach and mentor but don’t micromanage or let things float along. Most employees thrive on independence, growth and involvement, yet they also thrive on feedback, accountability and firm, fair leadership. Finding a balance is crucial for success.

4. You complain about the bad economy and lack of cash flow.

Your employees care about you and the company, but if you’re burdening them with your woes, morale will go down. Don’t share everything; they don’t need to know it all. Focus on being positive and supportive. Some people may argue that your staff needs to know the facts. Yes, but do not harangue them daily that their job is in jeopardy. Let them know how important each and every one of them is to the company’s success. If layoffs are looming, first ask yourself:

• Can you train and encourage them to do more?
• How is your customer service? Should you be working on your business before resorting to drastic measures?

5. You bring your personal life to work.

We all have personal lives outside of work. It can sometimes be difficult to separate the two, especially if your pumping business is family-owned. Regardless of what is happening in your personal life, it’s important to keep that separate from your professional life. Talking extensively to employees about personal problems, or having friends and relatives always stop by, can affect the way your employees view you as a leader. Set a good example for the staff by setting the standard of behavior.

6. You don’t deal with problematic employees.

If you don’t address problematic staff members, not only will others begin acting like them but you could also lose your team’s respect. You cannot ignore a problem; it will only build if you don’t take the steps to resolve it. Deal with issues before they get out of control. Being involved in the day-to-day tasks of your employees will help you stay on top of any problems or potential problems. Make sure you are visible to employees and check in with key people to find out if there are any issues you need to resolve.

7. You are always out of the office.

Sometimes you have to be out of the office for personal reasons. But it’s important that employees are able to count on you for assistance, guidance and support. A manager who is always rescheduling appointments or is not available for his staff will quickly lose respect. If you need to be away a lot for personal reasons, try to meet with your staff on the same day each week. At least then they will know when they can reach you.

8. You overreact when employees approach you with concerns or problems.

You can be a good leader 90 percent of the time, but if you’re losing it 10 percent, that’s what they’ll remember. Don’t overreact when an employee brings an issue to your attention. Staff members need to know they can come to you with problems and keep you updated on their work. Overreacting will only discourage them from keeping you informed.

Be A Team Player

Everyone, even management, needs to work at being a better “team” member. Realize your strengths and weaknesses and work on the things you can improve. By being aware of your staff’s frustrations, you can work to change those habits. You’ll earn the respect of your employees, they’ll be happier and more productive, and the business will benefit.