MY GREATEST CHALLENGE IN LIFE HAS BEEN HOW TO SATISFY MY WORKERS. IT’S BEEN A BIG AND INSURMOUNTABLE PUZZLE THAT EVERYDAY I’M ON IT TO IMPROVE YET I SEE NO END. You can’t find the end not in giving a chunk of what you earn out as salary .2 not in increment from time to time to meet the ever rising inflation without their request 3. Not in ignoring some pillar pulling errors and faults they make in order not to be branded a harsh boss. 3 . Not in giving gifts once in a while 4 not in giving light lunch once in a while to motivate 5. Not in paying attention and following them even back home when they are ill or in any other allied situation 6. Not in preaching and showing them in all its ramification that you are good,kind,just and accommodating .7. Not in being mild and considerate in correction by always taking them away from where someone will ñotice they are being corrected or warned . Virtually everything you do to establish a smooth and cordial relationship and to get the best of them will always appear to them as they are doing you a favour and nothing coming from you can equal what they give you . When they want to leave they leave you in a very incredible way that even the person you feel you trusted will spearhead it and show it to your very before . Try to be hard on them,surcharge them when they default or commit a grave offence hoping that with that they will sit up,yes that sit up will be felt but the gang -up that will follow the sit up is such you can never handle . I think today I have an answer to that long posed question “why do most African businesses not live beyond five years”. WORKERS! They will frustrate,humiliate and even dominate you especially if you are a type that is not bold enough to know what we want for your business . This is the truth and nothing but the truth I will have to tell anyone about to go into an investment requiring hiring of workers. I think those telling us be good to your workers and you’ll get the best from them are not telling us the real gist as it should be in Nigerian business terrain. I’ve done all and more yet I got nothing . What they should tell you is that our people do not want to be corrected ,do not care if you make profit or expand or not .All they want from you is to ignore them,allow them in good or in bad when the business fails they will still come and ask for their salaries even when it’s obvious they’ve killed the businwss and nothing is coming from it When the business is finally dead they will leave you and go to the next employer to tell him how unserious and stupid you are in running a business and they will make mockery of you waiting for when next to make a mockery of the second employer . Set a strong rule and policy of how to manage your workers,at least be kind to your bearable minimum . Don’t be induced to do because others are doing. Correct anyone that errs according to the rule without looking back . Do your best to protect your business and satisfy them and sit in your office and wait for the time they will leave you .But before, that always have a concrete plan on ground to replace them before ever they ieave because as for leaving they must leave someday and you can’t stop them because YOU DON’T OWN THEM. Not even your kindness can buy them back when they are set to leave. I’ve given a graduate worker of mine a huge sum of money to go do his clearance in the University he studied and after the clearance he left and was never seen till date I’ve suggested to a widow worker to start a side business after work to help her with her 7 kids and even gave her fund though loan to start with,the day she cleared the loan was the day she brought a resignation letter giving her excuse as not having enough time for business . The same business I suggested ,the same I funded . I paid a year rent for a worker who also left same month the rent loan was cleared . I once asked my workers to stay outside the gate for always coming late and even provided seats for them to sit and just to finally correct them and to them that became the never heard of,never seen of the century .I became the most barbaric of all employers .. LESSON LEARNT A HARD WAY! ..E.A.GRAHAMSt
