Understanding The 4 Types Of Employees & How You Can Manage Them
Chika Ebuzor
Author | Certified Digital Marketing Associate | Digital Media Content Strategist
Hello Dear Believer,
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Any organisation that wants to earn a pride of place in the minds of its customers has to, first of all, ensure that its employees are properly taken care of because they are the brain box of its operations.
Leaders tasked with the responsibility of managing and/or overseeing teams should equip themselves with soft skills that will enable them relate effectively with team members.
According to John Maxwell, people do not care how much you know, they only want to know how much you care.
A quick look at John 10:12-14 highlights the 4 types of employees you will find in every workplace, as mentioned by Jesus Christ.
The scripture says: ?"But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
"The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
"I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine."
The 4 types of employees listed in the scripture above are:
1. The Shepherd.
2. The Sheep.
3. The Hireling.
4. The Wolf.
1. The Shepherd.
This kind of employee takes responsibility and initiative without being told to do so. They understand that they are major stakeholders in the organisation.
They motivate and work on themselves to bring top-notch input to the table so as to help the organisation achieve its set goal(s).
They know how to care for team members and motivate them towards achieving the corporate goal. No wonder they end up as leaders.
Suggestion(s): The Shepherd should be motivated to do more through incentives, praise etc, as well as tasked with the responsibility of raising more leaders to be like him/her.
2. The Sheep.
The Sheep is an obedient team member. He/She relies on the Shepherd for direction and instructions on what to do.
They do not like or want to rock the boat because; they love to follow and maintain the stereotype, and also change unsettles them.
This kind of employee does not think he/she needs to make an input because to them, they do not really matter in the scheme of things. Even if they have any idea, they kill it or keep it to themselves because they think their input is not valuable.
They are very loyal followers and will almost never break the ranks.
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Suggestion(s): The Sheep should be given certain low-risk tasks with supervision for them to fully grasp how things work in the organisation and also to see that their input is important.
There should be anonymous feedback channels for employees like this to share their views without the fear of being intimidated.
Also, mentoring programmes should be put in place for employees in this category to shadow leaders, so they can build confidence and also fine-tune their leadership skills.
3. The Hireling.
This kind of employee is in the organisation for the salary and perks that come with working for the organisation or his/her position.
They see their input and service as strictly transactional and will not go beyond what they have been asked to do.
They are the first to run out of the office with their stuff as soon as it is close of work.
You hear them say things like;
Their loyalty is to the organisation that can pay the highest salary, and will not hesitate to jump ship at the sign of trouble.
As long as they are enjoying the benefits and steady salary they are fine, and can be mistaken for sheep.
Suggestion(s): The Hireling can be managed also. This kind of employee will hit any target or goal as long as it reflects on his paycheck, or if there is a personal gain to it.
Managers should help them see how their input and commitment will help them achieve their personal, academic, career, family or financial goals,
You have to, first of all, understand their personal goals before you can relate with them at that level.
Paint a picture of the organisation's career progression and make them see how possible it is for them to climb the ladder to enjoy juicy privileges.
4. The Wolf.
This kind of employee is desperately ambitious, feeds on praise and attention, and will stop at nothing to get it.
They will scheme and even go to the extent of spreading false stories about colleagues just to get in the good books of those in authority.
You see them hobnobbing around senior executives and dropping names at any opportunity for their colleagues to think they have class.
If things do not go their way or someone else takes the spotlight, they do not mind drawing blood or frustrating any task, no matter how important it is to the organisation just to prove how relevant they are in the scheme of things.
Suggestion(s): The first step is to properly understand the fear and the void in the Wolf. Most wonderful employees function like this too, so it will be a loss to write them off immediately.
The Wolf should be advised to go for professional counselling and observed for a period of time. If the behaviour continues, it is safe to put the overall well-being of the organisation and its employees first.
I pray that the grace and desire to serve be released on you in the name of Jesus. Amen!
Thank you for your time.