10 Characteristics of a Good Boss
You see so much on all those bad bosses and compare your experiences with others. But how often do we talk about what makes up a good boss? Very rarely. How will a manager know that they are getting it right? How can we tell them what we want to see in a good boss?
Let’s give them 10 ways that they can get a thumbs up from us.
Good Listener
I have found that few people are actually good listeners which makes being one important for any manager. Why? Because when they listen, they do better at their own job.
When employees come into a manager’s office and addresses concerns, a wise manager listens to what they have to say and doesn’t brush it off as dramatic or picky. I had a manager once who refused to listen to my concerns with a specific supplier. When it all hit the fan later, he said he didn’t know anything about it. He never listened and was known for just nodding to placate people but not listening to a word they said. Needless to say, that caused problems for everyone in the company.
Listening gives a person a leg up on any situation. A manager who listens knows what is going on around them and will not be caught unawares. They will also be better prepared to help their department.
Tips for Better Listening:
Focus on the people talking
Take notes
Never be dismissive
Ask pointed questions
Read more here.
The Blame Stops Here
Managers who act like children are the worst. A manager should never keep pushing the blame especially onto his employees. The blame should stop at their own desk.
When a manager actively lets the blame stop at their own desk, they get respect from their employees. Yes, the employee still might get in trouble with the boss, but others in and outside of the company are usually unaware of it. The boss takes the heat as they represent the company.
I once had a boss who kept directing me to put an issue on the backburner. Looking back, I should have ignored her and worked on it in my spare time. I foolishly just went along with it though I knew the actions were wrong. When it all hit the fan, she quickly pointed fingers at me and refused to take any blame. I lost all respect for her that day.
Never throw employees under the bus, but also never ignore issues that should be addressed. Mentor employees instead of walking over them.
Gets Their Hands Dirty
Managers who sit on their thrones and watch their employees get dirty are lousy managers. They get a reputation of being full of themselves and not aware of the actual work their employees do. Not good attributes of a manager.
I watched a shipping manager get down on the floor to help fold boxes for her department when an employee had to call in sick. I’ve seen managers roll up their sleeves and leave their offices to help out. Those are good managers and ones who have the respect of everyone around them.
Remember that your employees are your department. Be willing to help them as they help you every single day.
Mentor
A good boss is a mentor to their employees. From what I have seen, most managers think their job is just to boss others around and attend meetings. While that is part of the job, it is not the whole job. A good manager is there to help guide and develop their employees as well.
Many employees are looking to move up in the company. Managers who help them hone their skills to be better at their current job and to prepare them for future jobs are the rockstars of bosses.
Develop your employees into better workers. Even if they aren’t moving up in the company, it will help improve your department.
Good Communicator
Every single person should be a good communicator. Managers even more so as they have to direct and lead a department. Communication is the oil that keeps the business machine going along.
What do you do when your manager mumbles or gives you vague instructions? That happens more than you realize. I just had a co-worker tell me of a time the day before when her manager was a horrible communicator and then tried to throw her under the bus. Work doesn’t get done right when communications fail from the manager.
End every meeting with a summary of what is expected with everyone. Just because you understand or think you know what is to happen next doesn’t mean everyone else does. Be clear and never assume.
Good Morale
A bad mood is contagious. So is a good mood. A boss who is always in a bad mood will have grumpy employees. A manager who smiles and tries to see the sunny side of things has happier employees.
Now I’m not saying to go to the extreme and force positive attitudes even during the storms. Employees don’t like that either. I sat in a meeting where we all knew that a process was not working right. The manager refused to admit it and kept saying all looked good. There is such a thing as a positive attitude and then there is willing blindness.
Good morale is also how you interact with your employees. If you are one that always is pointing out their errors and never their accomplishments, you are a bad boss.
Provides Resources
Good bosses don’t leave their employees stranded on the proverbial deserted island. They give them the resources to get their jobs done so the entire department and company can shine. A manager who doesn’t do that just…sucks.
Resources includes software, information, workers, and even time. I’ve had managers who did without resources yet expected their employees to get the job done. Not a good idea.
Talk to your employees and see what they need and what can help them with short-term and long-term goals.
Aware of Department Activity
A manager who doesn’t know what their is doing is not good at their job. I’m not suggesting that a good boss micromanages their employees, but they need to be aware of the work that is going on in their department.
I have actually sat in a meeting where a manager had to admit that he didn’t know what his employees did or what projects they were working on. What was he managing? The manager should know what their employees do.
Have regular meetings with your employees to get a summary on what they are working on.
Recognizes Employees
You know those bosses who never give kudos to their employees? Yep, there are quite a few managers who ignore the accomplishments of their employees. It is always good to hear “Good job” as it inspires you to continue doing do.
I had a boss who only acknowledged my work during my yearly review. The rest of the year, my work was never commented on even in a negative way. I went totally unrecognized most of the year, and he wondered why I left for another job….
To be honest, employees don’t need to be buttered up each day. Periodic recognition goes a long way. Acknowledge their hard work and don’t take credit for the results of that work. Recognize them.
You should always tell your employees how well they are doing. Most days are full of stressors that bring employees down. Tell them they did a good job or made you laugh or anything that will help to alleviate the daily stress.
Understanding
A good boss is understanding. That doesn’t mean that they allow their employees to get away with murder at work, but they are understanding about life and the situations it can throw someone.
Think of the parent of young children. They have no idea when they’ll wake up to raging fevers or upset stomachs that have an employee trying to be a parent and an employee at the same time. That happens often and cannot be avoided.
There are even times when someone else in the family causes an employee to have issues to be in the work place. My husband ended up in a hospital out of state. I had to focus on whether or not he was going to live. My boss was extremely understanding. Yes, he called to ask me questions, but he didn’t push me to work while I conversed with doctors. The result was me wanting to work even harder for him.
Be understanding of your employees situations as it will help them see how much you value them. Your employees will work even harder for you.
Bonus: Keeps Employees In The Loop
I want to add another characteristic of a good boss. Keeping your employees in the loop can only help you as a manager. It makes your department stronger and shows your employees that you see them as part of the team.
I cannot tell you how many times I found myself totally lost when someone higher up the company food chain came up to me and asked me questions on things that I knew nothing about. Felt like an idiot! Upon investigation, I discovered that my boss did not keep me updated on these meetings about things that would impact me. This made both me and my boss look foolish.
Managers do not have to reveal sensitive information, but the good ones make sure their employees know what they need to be successful in their job. Keep employees in the loop so the department can be stronger and standout in the company.
After meetings, meet with your employees and give them a summary of what was discussed. Make sure you regularly meet with your employees so no one is caught unaware.
Conclusion
A good boss has employees who will do nearly anything for them. These managers strive to improve themselves and become a boss their employees are proud to work for. That means work on the manager’s part to be that good boss.
What other attributes can you add to this list?
