How to be a good boss

What does it take to be a good boss? While most of us have experience of bad ones, to understand their failings and actually become a good boss is no easy trick.

It demands, patience, hard work and integrity – qualities that many in upper management appear to have lost at some point in their climb up the ‘greasy pole’. Moreover, you need to balance the needs of your employees, yourself and the business – no easy task.

A good boss is one who not only cares about the people they line manage but also manages to keep them motivated to help achieve the organization’s objectives.

Tools to use

Some of the means of demonstrating that you actually care about your employees:

• Genuinely fair appraisals
• Realistic goals with the resources to meet them
• Regular meetings – to encourage ideas and allow staff to express their opinions without fear of retribution
• Motivational devices – after work drinks/ team lunch/bonuses/public praise
• Teambuilding exercises
• Training – both for you and your team

Summary

A good boss should exhibit the following characteristics:

• Helps employees understand the role they play in helping the organization achieve its aims. Understand what motivates each individual who works for you.
• Can communicate effectively each individual’s goals and provide them with the resources they need to meet their objectives.
• Is a good listener, possessing compassion and humour.
• Helps the employees under them achieve and develop their skills.
• Not threatened by creative individuals: is willing to judge an idea on its merits.