It’s Not Them, It’s You: How Poor Management and Strained Relationships Affect Employees —
—HR in Out of Home—Got people problems? Let’s solve them together!
by Janea S. McDonald, PhD, PHR, SHRM-CP
janea@edgehrconsulting.com www.edgehrconsulting.com
In OOH, just like most industries, success hinges on collaboration, innovation, and effective leadership. Yet, many organizations struggle with internal challenges that undermine their potential—poor management practices and strained co-worker relationships. These issues create a ripple effect, damaging morale, productivity, and ultimately, the organization’s reputation. In my last article, I talked about turnover and the fact that people often leave their jobs due to poor relationships. This article explores how poor leadership and unhealthy workplace dynamics disrupt the OOH industry and offers actionable strategies for building stronger teams and better leaders.
The Impact of Poor Management on Workplace Dynamics
Employees thrive when they feel trusted to make decisions and contribute meaningfully. Micromanagement stifles creativity and autonomy, leading to frustration and disengagement. I spoke with someone in the billboard community last week that said he hires the right people and then trusts them to do what they do best. (Insert the mind blown emoji). That’s what all organizations should aim to do. If you can’t trust your employees, they might not be the right people for the job. I read a quote recently that said, “Micromanagement is about the details, macro-management is about the outcome.” Offer guidance to employees so that they reach the desired outcomes but don’t get so mired down in the details that you exert too much control.
Managers who fail to communicate clearly create confusion and resentment. A lack of regular feedback, unclear expectations, or inadequate recognition fosters a disjointed team environment. If you feel like you are communicating effectively but your employees are still not giving you what you need, guess what? It’s you, not them. Also remember back to one of my first articles on emotional intelligence – use your EI to help you communicate more effectively. Be conscientious of your words, body language, and tone of voice.
Growth is a key driver of employee satisfaction. When managers neglect to invest in their team’s development, employees often feel undervalued and stagnant. How do you invest in your employees? There are so many avenues by which to offer employee development opportunities: training, mentorships, coaching, offering cross-training, giving stretch assignments, contacting Edge Consulting, LLC (😉), etc.
How Strained Relationships Between Co-Workers Undermine Success
Gossip, favoritism, and exclusion create environments where employees feel isolated and demotivated. A toxic culture often spreads, affecting even the most resilient team members. If you read this and wonder, “does my organization have a toxic culture?” It probably does. Refer to the picture that goes along with this article.
Creative environments often breed rivalry. When competition overshadows collaboration, teams become fragmented, and productivity suffers. A supportive team fosters resilience and innovation. When employees feel they cannot rely on their colleagues, their sense of belonging and willingness to contribute decline. Identify and eliminate any silos in your organization. Instead, focus on creating an environment where collaboration is key and celebrated.
Poor planning and unrealistic expectations exacerbate stress and diminish morale. You can’t exactly tell clients or customers the old saying of, “lack of planning on your part does not create an emergency on mine”, but you can create systems that address those problems before they happen.
The Ripple Effects of Poor Management and Relationships
- Erosion of Trust – Poor leadership and strained relationships erode trust within teams. Without trust, collaboration falters, and employees become disengaged.
- Decreased Productivity – Mismanagement and interpersonal conflicts lead to miscommunication, duplicated efforts, and missed deadlines.
- Negative Workplace Reputation – A dysfunctional workplace often earns a poor reputation, making it difficult to attract and retain top talent.
Solutions to Build Better Management and Relationships
The good news is that if any of these issues exist in your organization, they are fixable. Here’s what you can do:
- Equip managers with skills in communication, emotional intelligence, and conflict resolution through leadership training.
- Foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement by creating and using feedback mechanisms.
- Encourage open communication and clarity in decision-making by being transparent.
- Strengthen bonds through collaborative and social activities to build stronger teams.
- Provide employees with tools to address disputes constructively and offer conflict resolution training.
- Create a culture where everyone feels valued and respected.
- Ensure teams have the tools and support they need to succeed.
- Celebrate achievements to boost morale and reinforce positive behavior by creating recognition programs.
- Promote policies that prioritize employee well-being including offering work-life balance.
(Worthwhile exercise: look at the bullets above and ask yourself, “Do I/does my organization…” and follow with the information from the bullet. If you answer “no” to any of those questions, it’s time to make some changes.
Poor management and strained relationships are significant barriers to success. Addressing these challenges requires a commitment to fostering trust, collaboration, and effective leadership. By focusing on these internal dynamics, organizations can create environments where employees and teams thrive, ultimately driving better outcomes for the business and its clients. Remember, it’s not them—it’s you. The power to create change starts from within.
As always, let me know how I can help.
Please keep sending in your questions as you’re not the only one out there experiencing workplace issues, and others can benefit from reading how to handle specific situations.
This is your chance to get expert advice and see your question featured! Email me at janea@edgehrconsulting.com. Let’s work together to make people problems easier to handle. Visit www.edgehrconsulting.com
photo credit ➡️ Follow Shulin Lee, for more here