Being a good boss isn’t something you get off a rule book, it’s something you learn and of course, sometimes, you probably already have in you.
The thing about being a good boss is that the success of your business depends on it. A good boss makes their employee happy, and by extension, gets his business going.
Being a good boss goes beyond barking orders and instilling fear in your staff, it’s about doing the right thing to keep your company going in the right direction. So what makes a good boss?
LISTEN
A good boss listens to what his team has to say because great ideas, insights and perspectives don’t just come from one place but from anywhere. Therefore, he is open to the contributions of other people. Most of the contributions given by his team might not be fully formed yet and that is where his years of experience or expertise come in to play – to fine-tune these ideas and eventually make them better. Better still, make contributions to ideas raised than will encourage a good outcome.
DELEGATE WISELY
The key to leadership success is to learn to effectively delegate both the responsibility for completing assignments and the authority required to get things done. Many bosses feel that they need to control every little thing that their employees do. If you feel they are not good enough, then why hire them? Entrust your team with the ability to bring out the best possible result. They will respect you for that.
COMMUNICATE
A lot of bosses have a problem with communication. Most times, it’s difficult for busy business owners and executives to keep their employees up to date on the latest organisational news. Regardless, you must make every effort to get employees the information they need to do their jobs quickly and efficiently. Communication keeps everyone in the loop of what’s going on, what needs to be done and how to go about it, which leads to results.
SET GOALS
Every employee needs goals to strive for. Not only do goals give employees direction and purpose, but they ensure that your employees are working towards the overall organisational goals. Set specific and measurable goals with your employees, then regularly monitor their progress toward achieving them.
RECOGNISE ACHIEVEMENTS
Every employee wants to do a good job. And when they do a good job, employees want recognition from their bosses. Unfortunately, few bosses do much in the way of recognising and rewarding employees for a job well done. A kind word or gesture can go a long way in lifting the spirits of employees, that their work is recognised and appreciated.