Manners Matter: Chain of Command

Dear Mary Pat,

I have a new employee that I was very excited about at first. She is prompt, reliable, friendly and learns quickly. Over the last couple of months though she has started taking charge which is normally a good thing, but not to the point where she acts as though she’s the boss. She’s contradicted me in front of customers, given me direction on how a project should be completed and started rearranging everything. I like initiative, but this steps over the line. I suspect that she’s a little sensitive, so I’m not sure how to talk to her about this. I’m usually pretty low-key when managing my employees and like to give them room to shine with their particular talents, but at the same time I won’t be bossed around in my own business. Any thoughts on how to start the conversation?

Signed,

Who’s the Boss?

Sister Bay, Wis.

Dear Who’s the Boss,

One should have a healthy fear of his or her parents as well as his or her employer. Employees should respect their bosses and understand the chain of command. Collaboration is great, initiative is also great, but forgetting who signs your paycheck isn’t.

You need to have a conversation with this woman sooner than later and be direct. Maybe she isn’t aware of her behavior or maybe she used to manage people in another role in her career, but she has to understand that she is not in charge. Set up a time to talk and point out all the positives that she brings to your business. Then tell her that you have a concern about a couple of things that you’ve noticed. Be specific. After you’ve cleared the air, see if her attitude changes. If not, it might be time for her to boss someone else around.

Good luck,

Mary Pat