Your Employees Need Some Tough Love

“Give a Man a Fish, and You Feed Him for a Day. Teach a Man to Fish, and You Feed Him for a Lifetime.” -Ancient Proverb

In any industrial or manufacturing workplace, employees need to exhibit some degree of self-driven learning and ambition. If you’ve read many leadership articles or books, you’re probably well-educated on the concept of employee empowerment and recognition. However, it’s easy to mistake the importance employee development for handholding employees to the point where they are no longer taking control of their careers. As stated by Forbes, “As a leader, it’s never been more important to focus on the combination of ‘tough’ and ‘love’ when dealing with your employees.” It’s the delicate balance of these two things that can be difficult to maintain. Effective leadership is not extremist, but rather an ability to inspire employees through one’s own actions and behaviors.

If we look at this concept in simple terms, it’s easy to understand. Leadership that is too “tough” or hard-nosed will inevitably lead to employees becoming stressed out, discouraged and unmotivated to do well. On the other hand, with leadership that is too easy-going, employees can quickly become complacent and lose sight of their accountability. Striking the proper balance between these two oppositional traits will build a foundation of success for your employees in which they will know the standard of excellence established for them.

Setting fair and reasonable expectations – and being clear about these expectations – is truly the key to earning your employees’ respect and giving them the tools to achieve individual success. Your employees must be able to understand and learn on their own terms, rather than be coddled every time they make a mistake or fail at something. The more you can lay the groundwork above, the better off your employees will be in managing their own careers for years to come.

Ready to hire top Twin Cities talent?

Are you looking for qualified industrial and manufacturing employees for your team? Join forces with Case Staffing Solutions in Minneapolis and let us find the best talent for your organization!