'What can we do to get you to stay?': New manager tells worker they're useless, begs them to stay when they quit

Brad Dickson • Managing Editor

Aug 2, 2023 6:00 PM EDT

Well, which one is it? Useless or essential to the business? Contrary to what some managers believe, you don't get to have it both ways. If you treat your staff poorly, they're probably not going to have your interests—or the interests of the business—close to heart. Conversely, treating staff with decency and giving them agency will help you maintain a thriving and successful business. No one likes to have their hand held, no one likes to be micromanaged, and certainly, no one is going to react well to being berated and talked down to.

At the same time, why is it always new managers who have been promoted to a leadership role for the first time who feel it's their duty to be cruel to workers who have more skill, experience, and likely leadership experience than them? Maybe it's something to do with their own insecurity—in fact, it most certainly is. Anyone with true leadership skills and management experience knows that you need to watch and listen before jumping in and making changes.

I've written this no less than 1,000 times: Just because you're in charge doesn't mean you know everything or have the right answers—so don't act like you do.