The most difficult part about being a business owner is that the buck always stops with you. Yes, I know well that a successful entrepreneur must NOT be a micromanager, but that does not mean that giving an employee responsibility means the entrepreneur is off the hook. Women entrepreneurs, particularly, must learn that their greatest fear should NOT be that they will have to hire someone new, but that they will keep a bad employee too long to the detriment of the company.  In other words, "the devil you know is NOT better than the devil you don't know"!

Here are the top five mistakes many employees are making on the job and getting away with:

(1) Coming in late

(2) Leaving early

(3) Believing they are entitled

(4) Obsessing about personal problems

(5) Overstepping their position in the business

First, any employee who comes in late on a regular basis is not showing YOU, the entrepreneur, respect. Once working hours are determined by you and your employee they must be abided by. If YOU continually accept tardiness from an employee it becomes your mistake not his or hers.

Second, any employee who watches the clock on a regular basis and/or leaves before the end of his/her working hours is also not showing YOU, the business owner, respect. Once again working hours are an important part of the responsibility given to an employee. If an employee refuses to abide by them it will eventually create havoc throughout the entire organization. The old adage "if you give someone an inch they will take a mile" is truer in business than almost anywhere else.

Third, too often employees begin to feel a sense of entitlement the longer they work in an organization and particularly if the owner is not clear about roles and responsibilities. Often I hear from women entrepreneur clients that their entitled employee is just 'like that' and that his or her behavior has nothing to do with the how they are treated. The fact is entitlement at work almost always grows out of a lack of clear communication by the employer. For example, when the employer regularly fears confrontation with the employee and just dismisses poor working behavior the employee is left with the belief that the behavior is acceptable. Another example happens when the owner decides to show appreciation to the entire organization with bonuses due to a successful year without clarification as to exactly how special this event might be. Bonuses become an expectation by employees who don't understand that performance is required.

Fourth, women-owned businesses, particularly, seemed destined to having employee personal issues drive the conversation in the workplace. However, this pitfall can be avoided if the owner/entrepreneur is clear at the get-go that her workplace communication is meant only for and about workplace issues. I like to think about a hospital setting where signs are posted all around that all communication about patients is inappropriate due to HIPPA rules and standards. Of course, the HIPAA Privacy Rule, which protects the privacy of individually identifiable health information, has nothing to do with employee personal issues, but perhaps the best way to avoid this problem is to post signs if YOU, the entrepreneur, are uncomfortable with confronting this problem.

Finally, fifth, an employee that oversteps his/her authority just might put you out of business. I have worked with businesses where an employee took it upon herself to negotiate prices; to tell a good customer off; to alter the website; to discuss salary issues with another employee; to talk to a board member; to reduce an invoice -- all without asking for any input from her boss! If you get into the position of losing all authority with one or more of your employees it is imperative that you seek outside help immediately. The ship is sinking and YOU the captain have lost control!

Blaming others for what only YOU, the entrepreneur can change is hurting your business. When you start a business the buck stops with YOU. So, take back control fearlessly and "accept the things you cannot change, change the things that you can, and have the wisdom to know the difference."

P.S. And, if you have an employee who regularly makes more than one of the top five mistakes than believe me when I say - the universe is telling you what to do - it's time to take action and say goodbye to the devil you know and welcome a new employee. Take responsibility for making the mistake of allowing your business to get out of control. Take back your power and lead with strength and clarity.