You’ve undoubtedly seen helicopter parents before; those ones who hover over their children, becoming involved in every aspect of their lives, interfering with any independent decision-making.
But, as one of the leading staffing firms in South Florida, Future Force can tell you that there’s also such a thing as helicopter bosses.
Like their parental counterparts, these “leaders” intrude upon and try to control every aspect of their employees’ daily tasks; check in constantly; and tell their team not just what to do – but how and when to do it.
Not sure whether you qualify as a helicopter boss? Here are 6 signs:
Sign #1: You’re constantly swamped because you won’t delegate any of your work. You insist on doing it all yourself.
Sign #2: If you do actually delegate a task, you not only tell the employee you’re delegating to what they need to do, but you give step-by-step instructions on how to do it. You simply don’t trust them to perform the work without such thorough guidance.
Sign #3: You want to know where your employees are and what they’re doing at every moment of the workday. So you require a daily flow of detailed reports.
Sign #4: Your employees try to avoid you at all costs. They make up excuses as to why they can’t meet. They breathe a collective sigh of relief when you leave the office. In reality, they’re terrified and sick of your constant criticism.
Sign #5: You think you’re smarter and more productive than your staff. You think you have higher standards for quality and you never take their feedback or input into account.
Sign #6: When on the road or on vacation, you constantly call to check in and see what everyone is working on.
So what are the dangers of being a helicopter boss? There are plenty.
By treating your employees like children, you’re creating a recipe for disaster in the form of an unhappy and frustrated workforce. Moreover, you’re likely increasing turnover because most employees would rather leave than constantly deal with a boss who hovers. And high turnover can get expensive fast.
The bottom line is that if you are a helicopter boss, or tend to micro-manage certain areas of your business, you need to change if you want your company to grow and thrive.
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You have high standards. We get it. As one of the leading staffing firms in South Florida, we have high standards too. That’s why we’ve been in business since 1992, providing local employers with efficient access to the area’s top talent. So if you’re ready for some professional help staffing your team, give Future Force a call.