How not to alienate your staff

Even David Brent can manage a team. That’s easy. What’s hard is managing the individuals who make that team. Helen Fisher, business psychologist for Clinical-partners.co.uk, explains how to be an engaging boss.

“Be open about an employee’s unwritten expectations,” she says. “If someone thinks they’re top of the queue for a promotion, or wants to work overseas, the more you’re open about it, the more you reduce the likelihood of misunderstandings.

“Only hold purposeful meetings. Nothing switches people off quicker than endless conferences, so be particular and ensure that only relevant staff attend.

“Give regular feedback. Make it specific, like ‘That report was late,’ rather than, ‘You’re lazy.’

“Finally, tackle conflict constructively. Disputes don’t go away if they’re ignored. They just fester and get worse. Handle them by listening to the other person’s perspective and taking the time to work things through.”

(Image: Rex Features)