Do you suck as a Boss? 10 Steps to being Better
Being a boss can be very difficult. But it can be especially bad if you are the boss and aren’t respected, are bad at managing your staff or are disliked. What are some preventative measures or steps you can take to become a better boss? If you’re an ultimate authority, or just a simple manager, try these –
1. Don’t take all the credit – Just because you either oversee the project or are in charge doesn’t mean that you should take all of the credit. Your staff typically is in charge of most of the work, so make sure that they get the due credit that they deserve.
2. Trust your staff and delegate responsibilities – No one likes it when you micro manage, in fact it shows disrespect by basically telling your staff that you don’t trust their quality of work. If you have trained someone to do certain work for you, then allow them to do it with out interfering. Everyone has a different work ethic, someone else’s way of work, although different from yours, may be just as efficient. Before you veto their ethic, take a step back and evaluate their method from an unbiased perspective, you may learn that there are other, more constructive ways to do the same work. Don’t constantly correct your people; allow them to use their own style and ethic.
3. Get to know your employees – Watch your staff as people and individuals. When you do this, try to get to understand their motives and try your best to understand why. This will let you enhance, align and adjust their motives to suit a common goal. It is your job to figure out which employees are set to do certain tasks, and which employees will give 110%. The distinction between the two is big.
4. Let your staff make decisions without second guessing them– If you have done your best to train your staff, then you must trust that they will do the best they can in both you and your companies interest. Even if the wrong move has been made, don’t second guess them. Try to use the mistake as a training opportunity instead. Hear them out, more than likely they will have a logical explanation of why they made the decision that they did.
5. Let them work out issues with you intervening – With a full staff of different personalities, it is inevitable that there will be some form of friction between co-workers. If they complain to you about an individual, listen to them carefully. If there is mistreatment or someone is not fulfilling their duties, then it is time for you to step in. However, if neither one of these are taking place, then it is a clash of personality. Encourage them to work out their problems between themselves.
• If you have verified that it is a personality issue, let your staff know that they are not required to be friends. This will ease some of the tension. Let them know that they are simply required to get along and get the work done.
• Let them know that you believe in their ability to complete their work, and then leave them alone, but it is best to watch closely. Do not interfere unless any bullying, or interfering with other peoples work takes place.
6. Deal with issues quick and direct – As the boss, you need to get down to the problem quickly and directly. Many times you will want your employees to bottom line the story to you, however it is a hard balance to find between being to harsh and hurtful or blunt. When you acknowledge the problem and deal with it, let it be done and over with. Your goal is to maintain respect from your employees and promote productive behavior, not to puff out your chest and antagonize your employees in front of others.
• Don’t come at your employees with guns blazing when you need to speak with them. Use a neutral and monotone tone when asking your employee to see them in your office.
7. Tell your staff how much you appreciate them – Never hesitate on this, if your employee is doing a good job, or at least trying to, giving them a pat on the back and thanking them for all of their hard work will go a long way. If your staff feels that they are truly appreciated, than their job will mean more to them than a simple paycheck. If you can manage to thank an employee for all of their hard work in front of a customer out in the moving field, this will make the customer feel like you have left them in very capable hands, all the while making your employee feel they are pleasing you.
8. Show your appreciation – Go the extra mile, do something nice. Some ideas for nice things to do would be a reward program, an office BBQ, an all paid night out to a restaurant, etc… Be creative.
9. Be an effective listener – Your employees desire and deserve to be heard when they are concerned about someone or something. Let them finish talking before you speak, don’t assume you know what they are going to say, no one likes the boss who waits for their turn to talk. Your mind can be just as loud as your mouth at time, make sure that you don’t form any premature objections in your head before they are done explaining their point. Acknowledge that they have a point. This doesn’t mean that you agree, only that you were listening and understand. You may or may not have to take any action, sometimes your staff just wants to be heard. Give them your time, and lend them your ear.
10. Always say thanks – No matter how big, or small the task is, make sure that you always thank them for their hard work and due diligence. This will indeed go a long way with your employees.
Take these steps to heart and discern them to help become the best boss you can be, to yourself and to others.
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