Another common mistake managers make is not understanding the political role of union leaders. Union leaders – whether stewards inside your operation or officials outside the company – are in many ways like politicians. They rely on the support of their members to stay in “office.”

This means that when dealing with union leaders it is important to account for this political role. Managers should avoid embarrassing union officers and think about how to accomplish their goals while letting union leaders look good to their members.

This isn’t always possible, and some union officers think the only way they can look good is by battling with managers at every turn. But understanding this political role makes it much more likely that you can find a “win-win” solution that accomplishes your goals while helping union leaders accomplish theirs.