Avoid these Phrases Like the Plague

Managing employees can be rewarding. It can also be very challenging. Getting workers motivated to reach productivity goals, show up on time and engage one another in a cohesive manner requires a great deal of skill. It also requires tons of patience. If you supervise people, you know exactly what I am talking about.

Sometimes the stress of managing people can become so intense that we throw patience out the window and respond to employees impulsively. This is particularly true if we are receiving pressure from the top to meet a hard and fast deadline.

If you work in sales, marketing or banking, you can probably relate! Over the course of time, this pressure can build and cause us to say things we later come to regret.

Just as there are things employees should never say at work, there are also some things supervisors should never say to workers. If you manage people, I am going to list five phrases in particular that you want to avoid like the plague. These phrases not only create a caustic work environment, they can also land you in hot water with your employer.

Are you ready? Let’s jump right in!

1. My name is on the door!

This may absolutely be true but it doesn’t mean you need to shove that fact down your employee’s throat. Doing so only makes the people who report to you think you have a dictatorial style of leadership, which happens to be the least effective approach to management.

Even the military has started to move away from this command style of leadership. Yep – it’s true.

2. I don’t have time for you right now!

What a crappy thing to say to someone who has asked to speak with you. Yes, you may be super busy but that doesn’t mean you can’t take a moment to acknowledge the employee’s request and explain to her/him that you are currently tied up.

What would it be like if you simply said, “I am more than happy to talk but can we schedule something when I have a few moments to spend some meaningful time with you?” Do you see the difference here in how this comes across to someone?

3. You are lucky to be here!

This is another stupid, arrogant and narcissistic thing to say to a worker. The truth is all of us are lucky to have a job. Nobody wants to feel like they have to grovel in order to receive a paycheck. And by extension, nobody wants to feel like they have to kiss your behind.

Seriously, if you are saying this to people who report to you, I encourage you to get some serious career focused counseling immediately.

4. Do as I say – Not as I do!

This phrase is used by a boss who is behaving in ways that are generally not acceptable. An example might be taking a two-hour lunch but requiring subordinates to strictly adhere to the company’s 1-hour break policy.

If you are the boss, remember that you set the standard. Don’t expect the people who report to you to follow the rules if you are not willing do so yourself.

5. You are the ONLY one who has this problem!

What a dehumanizing, insensitive and terrible thing to say to an employee. You might as well be telling that worker they are stupid. Is it possible the person who is having difficulties has run into a unique technical issue? Might it be possible that your employee just needs a few points of clarification to complete the task?

When you compare employees with one another, you set up a dynamic of winners and losers. Do you really need to be told that nobody wants to feel like a 0?

Final Thoughts

I totally get it. Managing people in today’s 24-7 work environment is not easy. You probably are being pulled 9-ways to Sunday in different directions. Still, that is no excuse to make flippant, arrogant and unhelpful comments to the folks who report to you.

Sometimes, off the cuff remarks that take on a nasty tone suggest a larger problem with anger and stress. If you suspect this may be happening with you, it might be time to make a positive change.

There is an excellent book entitled The Mindful Leader that can help you channel more productive approaches to managing others through the art of mindfulness. I highly recommend.

One thing I have done with corporate clients is to have them buy a green plant for their office. The reason is because having something green in your office that is living can help to calm nerves.

The plant’s presence also serves as a concrete reminder (even just briefly) that all living things on this planet are fragile – including the people you supervise.

Thanks for taking time to read this post. I hope you found this information useful. Please Like 2^nd Story Counseling on Facebook, Circle us on Google Plus and share on Twitter!