If You’re a Manager Don’t Miss This Post
The relationship between a boss and his/her staff has been one that we frequently write about—over the years we’ve written posts on why you should or shouldn’t be friends with your boss on Facebook, we’ve opened your eyes to the fact that your boss could be worse, and appropriate ways for your boss to show his/her gratitude. I think that the reason why we keep revisiting the topic of one’s boss is because it is an interesting and ever-changing dynamic.
For instance, if you told someone they were being “bossy” they’d most likely be insulted, however in the workplace that’s your manager’s job. It’s almost as if certain societal rules just don’t apply at work.
When it comes to bosses though there are certain things that separate the good ones from the rest of them and we at Beyond.com—The Career Network asked more than 1,600 professionals what they think is the best quality in a leader and here’s what they said (if you’re a manager, you should absolutely read this):
- They provide consistent feedback and treat everyone equally, 29.67%—It’s safe to say that most of us want to be treated equally and receive consistent feedback—I once had a manager that when you finished a project and they’d review it each month you’d receive conflicting feedback and an environment like that can (and will drive you crazy). So a boss that can provide consistency is crucial!
- They set clear expectations to avoid misunderstandings down the line, 28.33%— Secondly, the boss that isn’t sure what they want you to do will pretty much drive you just as crazy as the boss that is inconsistent. When clear expectations aren’t set up front, you’re just asking for trouble. Additionally, not having expectations and goals set basically tells your employees that they won’t be held accountable. When that happens either nothing gets done or when it comes to prioritizing, your staff doesn’t know what is most important—mainly because they don’t have the skills to prioritize because there aren’t any goals.
- They encourage creative problem solving to help me grow as a professional, 20.15%— Another big thing that good bosses do is let their employees figure things out for themselves, with some guidance of course. If a problem arises, a good manager will let their staff figure out how to solve it. Empowering your staff with the skills to succeed on their own is one of the best things a boss can do. Instilling confidence is a great privilege that a boss has.
- They go to bat for me and have my best interest in mind, 13.43%—It’s also always nice to have someone in your corner. I once had a manager that hung his employees out to dry in front of clients. Needless to say, it was a revolving door when it came to the staff. The only thing the boss cared about was keeping himself on top.
- They give credit where credit is due, 8.42%—Hearing that you did a good job is always nice and having a manager that recognizes your successes and touts it out is even better. The sense of confidence and loyalty your staff will have from just a simple “Thank you” is amazing.
So if you’re a manager, here are five things that you should be doing to keep your staff happy and challenged. And if you’re a recruiter, these are some nice things you can mention about the organization you recruit for (only if they’re true—of course—if they’re not—share this blog with the managers you work with to let them know what they could be doing better).
