A millennial boss lets her employees make their own schedule, wear what they want and treats them to private yacht trips. <br /><br />Maddy Birdcage, 34, switched up how she ran her business after her company faced an $100,000 AUD tax debt she blames on her own micro-managing.<br /><br />The mum-of-two fired half her employees and started from scratch again - hiring self-motivated problem solvers, she said.<br /><br />She lets her team of nine bring their kids into the office during school holidays, set their own schedules and work from home when they need to.<br /><br />Maddy also feels it it important to treat her staff and is planning to take them on a $40k AUD overnight yacht trip when they all hit a team goal.<br /><br />The owner of marketing agency, Birdcage Marketing, says since making the changes her employees are "happier" and the business is making $90k AUD in profit a month.<br /><br />Maddy, from Queensland, Australia, said: "I always thought if I have a team I want everyone to enjoy coming into work.<br /><br />"I have really high expectations with my team. We work really hard.<br /><br />"If we have to spend so much time with each other - lets enjoy it.<br /><br />"There value is not derived from how long they are sitting at their desk."<br /><br />Maddy started up her own marketing agency nine years ago after experiencing "toxic" work environments and feeling "underwhelmed" by the support of her previous managers.<br /><br />But after taking advice to run her business in a different way Maddy started micro-managing staff.<br /><br />She said: "They were showing me all the thing I was doing wrong.<br /><br />"It was self doubt.<br /><br />"I was constantly having one on ones reviews with the team - really structured meetings.<br /><br />"It wasn't giving people autonomy.<br /><br />"It was micro management.<br /><br />"As a result we were in $100,00 AUD of tax debt.<br /><br />"I let that happen because I was doubting myself.<br /><br />"One morning I went in and fired half the team.<br /><br />"I kept half of them and rebuilt it."<br /><br />In 12 months, Maddy says they turned it around to make $90,000 AUD profit per month.<br /><br />Maddy now lets her employees do what they want - they each agree to a schedule with her, and can take a work from home day when they need.<br /><br />She said: "We agree to a schedule.<br /><br />"Some might say I only want to work three days a week.<br /><br />"Another might say I want to move away but I want to keep my job.<br /><br />"A lot of them have school age kids so need school hours."<br /><br />Maddy also lets her employees bring their kids into work during school holidays - and even has a TV room set up in the office for them to go.<br /><br />She said: "I had to hire people who are independent. <br /><br />"As your boss I'm not here to hold your hand.<br /><br />"I'm here to empower you and to solve your own problems and to build your own career."<br /><br />Maddy also wants to make sure she treats her team - and has a trip planned.<br /><br />She said: "I have always wanted to treat my team to trips away.<br /><br />"I want to take them on a super yacht.<br /><br />"It would be a $40k trip.<br /><br />"We've got a goal to reach together."<br /><br />Maddy also wants her staff to wear what they want.
