You seem a little unsure of yourself. Maybe you’re new to the team, or to management in general, but you don’t seem to have a handle on the office and may even regard your employees as “peons.” Authority is good, but needlessly flexing your power, or regarding employees as drones who exist to do your bidding doesn’t make for a healthy work environment. You don’t need to be come best friends with everyone, but loosening up and becoming more personable can go a long way. While it’s true that a lot of people don’t like their boss, it also isn’t good to be hated. Bosses should be respected, but that respect must also be earned. Remember, the difference between a leader and a boss: a boss faces their employees and tells them what to do, a leader faces forward and sets the example for others to follow.

Your blind spot is that your employees are unhappy. Either you don’t know enough about them to fill their needs, or you don’t care, but either way, happier employees would make your life so much easier. Maybe try getting to know your employees a little better, and find out how you can make their jobs easier. If you open that door and convince them that you care about their well-being and happiness in the work place, then they’re more likely to perform their duties better. You don’t have to get too personal with them, in fact it’s a good idea to not try and befriend everyone. Remember, no matter what you may wind up having to fire one of them someday. However, it’s okay to care about them and their well-being, and it’s okay to engage with them a little more on a personal level. Happy employees are happy workers.