The Devil Wears Prada... But You Don't Want to be the Devil

by Wesley Berry, AAF

Published on this site: August 12th, 2006 - See more articles from this month

The devil may wear stylish Prada clothing, but most of us have no desire to be compared to the devilishly cruel boss portrayed by actress Meryl Streep in the hit movie The Devil Wears Prada. The story centers on Meryl Streep's character famously bullying her mousy employee, played by Anne Hathaway. The hit book on which the movie is based was actually a fictionalized account of the author's days working for Anna Wintour, editor of the fashion magazine Vogue.

Unfortunately, many of us have stories about bad bosses who made our lives miserable, and in many cases the boss never realized just how horrible he or she really was. If you're concerned that your employees may be swapping tales of your mistakes and errors in judgment, there are some steps you can take to avoid earning a demonic reputation as an employer. International human resources expert, trainer, and speaker Elaine Anderson recommends that you use these tips to keep your workplace under control while still being seen as one of the good guys:

• Talk about issues when they happen. You may think you're doing the right thing when you let a few bad behaviors slide, but the truth is that you could be making things worse. Deal with issues immediately in a professional and honest manner.
  
  
• Treat "you" like a bad word when disciplining. Rather than pointing the finger at a person's mistake, talk about the situation and not the person. For example, instead of telling someone, "You left the lights on after closing last night and it cost me a lot of money," try a softer approach. Explain that you're energy conscious and when money is spent on lighting,it's not available for other important aspects of the business.
  
  
• Ask your employees how you're doing. When you provide employees a safe, confidential way to give feedback about your performance, they'll know their input is appreciated and you'll have the opportunity to work on improving your weaknesses. Seek training for those areas that you're uncertain how to fix yourself.

In addition to these great tips, I've found that showing my employees how much I appreciate their hard work all year long is an excellent way to maintain employee morale and a cohesive team. One great way to show your employees you care is to make it a oint to remember special dates like birthdays or anniversaries appreciation such as floral arrangements or plants for their desks. Flowers and plants are not only a nice way to say thank you, they're also a fantastic way to brighten up the workplace and make it a prettier, more enjoyable place to be.

Keeping your "good boss" reputation and avoiding having a movie like The Devil Wears Prada made about your antics is as easy as being mindful of how you treat others while keeping control of your business. And, one step to being mindful can be accomplished quite simply by picking up a phone to schedule floral deliveries to your employees to celebrate all they do.

Wesley Berry is member of the American Academy of Floriculture (AAF) and President of Wesley Berry Flowers (http://www.wesleyberryflowers.com), a successful multi-million dollar floral business that was established in 1946. As a member of the Henry Ford Hospital Community Relation Board he has contributed to the community at large (http://www.hospital-locator.com). He owns both a brick and mortar and an internet flower delivery business. Visit Wesley Berry Flowerson the web at http://www.800wesleys.com