Do your people think of you as a great boss?
It isn’t that hard to be a good boss. Good bosses get the job done, but great bosses are leaders. They inspire and elevate their people. Great bosses go the extra mile to reach people’s hearts.
Great bosses lead people to great victories! They win championships. They turn failing companies around. They rejuvenate the faith of the people in their country. We need GREAT bosses!
The essentials of being a GREAT boss
I aspire to be a great boss. I don’t think I’m there yet, but I’m trying to learn what I can do to get there. Fortunately, I’ve had the privilege of working for some great bosses so I’ve been able to observe what they do.
Here are six essentials of being a great boss in no particular order. I’m sure there are a lot more that could be added to this list, but I’m convinced that these six things must exist in order for a person to become a great boss.
1. You must respect everyone
A great boss has learned to listen to and respect everyone even those that have a vastly different opinion and agenda from their own. Regardless of differences, they never make another feel small or foolish. They listen and drink in the information filtering it through their wisdom. They make everyone feel valued and appreciated even when they disagree with what is being said.
2. You must take care of your people
A great boss stands up for her people. She gets them what they need to do their job, however necessary. A great boss will stick her neck out and risk her own safe status on behalf of one of her people. Her loyalty is uncompromising.
Great bosses are also keenly aware of the personal needs of their people. They are sensitive to the balance between work and home. They are more than just a boss to their people, they are a friend.
3. You must cast a compelling vision
A great boss knows where he is going and is able to paint a vivid picture of that vision for his people. Without a clear and compelling vision, people flounder. There is no way for them to come together as a team because they lack a common purpose.
All great bosses cast a compelling vision. They rally the troops to achieve one clear cut objective. If your team is not doing too well, then ask yourself if you have adequately conveyed the vision to them. Does your team know what they are there to accomplish?
4. You must be able to make a decision
Personally, I would rather work for a boss that makes a bad decision once in awhile than one that can never make up his mind. People want to follow a confident boss. They want someone that can make a decision and then lead the charge in that direction.
A great boss knows that you can never have perfect knowledge of a future outcome. They gather input, weigh the probabilities and make a decision. If additional information comes available later that warrants a change of course, then they adapt or make the best of the choice made.
5. You must accept responsibility and pass along praise
A great boss always accepts responsibility when things go wrong. They never pass the buck or make excuses. They analyze what went wrong, take corrective action and move forward. They are open and honest about their mistakes. An exposed cover-up always does more damage than the original error.
In addition, a great boss always passes along the praise to her team. She also shares all rewards she receives as a result of the joint effort. Publicly acknowledging the contributions and sacrifices of your team will go a long way toward winning their loyalty.
6. You must be fair
A great boss must be a fair and impartial judge. Playing favorites or allowing personal biases to get in the way of your decision-making is a recipe for disaster. Judge each person on their individual merits. Everyone has different strengths and weaknesses. A great boss is able to sort through this to get to the crux of issues.
A part of being fair is acting decisively when others aren’t pulling their weight. A great boss is capable of quickly handling these circumstances before they blossom out of proportion.
Are you a good boss or a GREAT boss?
These are the things I am striving to do consistently to become a great boss. I try to measure myself against this list of essentials regularly. It takes time and experience to become a great boss. Most of us will make some mistakes along the way. Don’t let that get you down. Begin every day with a clean slate and do your best. The effort will pay off!
What other qualities does a great boss possess?
Photo by Kumar Appaiah
I absolutely agree! It’s unfortunate how a bad boss can really ruin things for employees, but a great boss absolutely turns things around. One such excellent boss was recently introduced to our division, and the results were unbelievable.
Thank you, and I will certainly pass this on. Keep up the good work!
.-= David Johnson´s last blog ..The Art of Tact =-.
In addition, a great boss doesn’t criticize his or her employees but gives them incentives. Nothing more destructively hurts an employees state of mind but thru criticism. Eliminate criticism and your success will increase ten fold.
“There is nothing else that so kills the ambitions of a person as criticisms from superiors. I never criticize any-one. I believe in giving a person incentive to work. So I am anxious to praise but loath to find fault. If I like anything, I am hearty in my approbation and lavish
in my praise. ”
– Charles Schwab
Great advice for ANY boss or leader!
Dr. Robert Sutton, author of “The No Asshole Rule” has a new book I am reading called “Good Bad, Bad Boss” and highlights many of your points in detail.
.-= Asher Adelman´s last blog ..Coping with a Toxic Boss – “CYNTHIA THE SILENT TREATMENT TORTURER” =-.
Hey Jeff,
The word BOSS has generally a negative impression in the minds of most of the people. It all depends on how the bosses make or break the relations with employees.
Nice article. Keep it up.