If you’re even halfway interested in becoming a better leader, then I’m sure you’ve read dozens of books and articles and case studies about leadership. You’ve probably seen a few statistics that have made you really stop and think about your own approach to management and leadership.
But you’ve never seen a statistic like this one. Ladies and gentlemen, your attention please…
“One study of healthcare workers found that when employees were working for a boss they disliked, they had significantly higher blood pressure. Boss-induced hypertension could increase the risk of coronary heart disease by one-sixth and stroke by one-third. And employees who work for bad bosses for four years or more are 64% more likely to experience a serious heart problem than employees who work for good bosses.”
What does this mean? It means that your managerial practices can actually hasten the death of your employees. I’ll bet you never knew what truly awesome power you wielded.
In case you didn’t already know, the three most significant non-financial influences on an employee’s happiness are: their relationship to their immediate superiors; their relationship to their immediate coworkers; and the length and ease of the commute to work. As a manager, you are directly responsible for one-third of that happiness.
So the next time you see your employees, remember this. You can treat them well and receive their loyalty and increased productivity as a result of your efforts. You can listen to their ideas, address their concerns, and receive a creative and energetic workforce in return. Or you can send them to an early grave.
The choice is yours.
(Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine)
