7 Ways to Get Your Subordinates to Obey You With Ease

Being disobeyed by subordinates and team members is a disheartening feeling for a manager or a team leader. You could feel helpless, powerless, vulnerable and disappointed if you are in a similar situation. Here are a few tips to get your subordinates to obey you with ease.

1. Set practical goals and deadlines

Subordinate are likely to rebel when unreasonable and impractical goals or targets are set for them. Things get worse when steps are taken to reprimand them when those goals are not reached. Subordinates are humans too and they would like their managers to assess their capabilities before being allotted any tasks. As a manager, don’t set goals or targets for your subordinates that you would not have been able to achieve if you were in their place.

2. Excuse your subordinates in genuine situations

Willful obedience tends to follow respect in most relationships. Your subordinates will obey you if they respect you and admire you for your behavior. Whenever your subordinates come to you with a problem, excuse them or take helpful measures for them if they sound genuine. Managers are supposed to look after their team, and situations like these can make or break your relationship with your team members.

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3. Be a good listener when your subordinates are talking

Whether a subordinate is offering an argument, giving an idea, questioning your verdict or chatting with you over coffee, make sure that your ears are open. If you seem distracted while your team members are talking, or if you label their opinions insignificant, you may never get them to obey you.

4. Reward or praise your subordinates fair and square

If your subordinates feel motivated and inspired by working under your leadership, they are likely to enjoy following your orders and instructions. Compliment, reward or praise your subordinates when they do a good job. Boost their ego and morale from time to time and get their obedience in return.

5. Give explanations and instructions in clear and loud words

You may think that getting your subordinates to obey you requires a lot of strategy. But many times it may simply be a matter of communicating your instructions properly. If your subordinates can’t understand what they have to do, how can you expect them to obey you? Make sure that your explanations and instructions are given in clear and loud words so that there is no space for confusion of an excuse for disobedience.

6. Make a plan of action that suits everybody

As a manager or leader, a plan of action without the input or insights of your team may be rendered useless. It can be something as simple as planning a day or something as complex as devising a timeline for a project. For example, if you fix a group meeting at 7 in the morning when your subordinates have burnt the midnight oil on the previous day, it can be inconvenient for them, and it may provoke them to disobey you.

7. Have a firm, strong and no-nonsense image

Your reputation and image can go a long way in earning the obedience of your subordinates. If you have the reputation of being a pushover, a vulnerable leader or someone who can be fooled easily, your subordinates are likely to take you for granted and often disobey you. Whereas, a no-nonsense, stoic and firm image may naturally help you earn the obedience of your subordinates.