Dear Entrepreneur,
Focus on the results of your employees, and not on the time they spend working. Spending more than 8 hours working every day, in front of a computer, is not synonymous with being productive or efficient.
So, learn to respect the free time of your employees. I know that you’re in love with your business and that you can’t even leave it outside of working hours, but not every of your employee has to feel the same way as you do.
What I’m trying to say is: avoid calling your employees outside of working hours. Don’t even send them emails (or WhatsApp messages relating to work) outside of working hours, unless it is absolutely necessary and requires their immediate attention.
Try this: ask yourself, “Can this wait until tomorrow?” No matter how close you are to an employee, if the matter can wait until the next day, then wait. And if you remembered at that very moment and you fear that you may forget, then put it down in your agenda for tomorrow, or ask your smartphone to remind you.
Even if you give your employees a mobile phone from work, the same rule applies. You have to understand that they are not required to be available to you 24/7. They are people too—with family, friends, and personal commitments. You have to respect that.
With love,
Chidi