How To Be a Good Boss: 17 Best Qualities Of a Great Boss
Want to understand how to be a good boss? Then you are in the right place.
It takes lots of hard work and discipline to be a boss – after all, the success of the whole organization rests on the boss’s shoulders – and for this reason, there’s all the time pressure to do things right.
Therefore, everybody prefers to work for a good boss. When bosses are nice to employees, they naturally want to do a good job – if for no other reason, at least to make their boss happy.
Having a fantastic boss makes the workplace friendly and encouraging, so workers wake up every day looking forward to work.
There are a few traits that all good bosses have in common, and it is largely because of these traits that employees like to stick to them.
How to Be a Good Boss:
In this article, we’ll highlight some of the qualities that make a fantastic boss!
1. Communicating the Company’s Vision Clearly
Communication is the foundation of teamwork. An awesome boss knows that to accomplish great success with his team, he must clearly define the company’s vision in a way that inspires employees to want to help achieve it.
Effective bosses also know that they need to convey this goal in a convincing way.
When employees clearly understand the goals and objectives of the organization, they’ve good direction, and their activities become more streamlined to realize those goals.
2. Creating a workable strategy on how to accomplish the vision
Great bosses ensure that every task they delegate is linked to the company’s vision. In this way, even the smallest task that every employee performs, brings them one step closer to achieving the targets set by the company.
To do this, a fantastic boss writes smart goals tied to business strategy, which eventually resonate to accomplish organizational success.
The boss also finds ways to continually remind staff what their targets are, in addition to set milestones by which she or he measures their results, and makes corrections when necessary.
3. Set realistic and clear targets
Great bosses do not give messy jobs. They clearly define each staff member’s job description, in such a way that employees have a clear understanding of their duties and what is anticipated of them.
Research has shown that having a clear job description reduces stress at work.
A good boss can thus reduce the stress of his workers by discussing with them, one on one; to make them understand the role they’ve to play, to make sure the success of the organization. Great bosses also provide timely updates anytime expectations change.
Whenever this change occurs, a good boss also makes it clear what the new assignment is, and how best to carry it out.
4. Making the Workplace Conducive for Workers
The treatment employees receive at work affects their productivity. If the workplace is conducive and friendly, it encourages them to get excellent results.
An awesome boss will provide the encouragement, respect, and trust employees need to unleash their creativity and reach their full potential.
5. Double As Trainer
One of the great attributes of a fantastic boss is that they themselves are good at the jobs they’ve assigned to their workers. This gives them the ability to lead by example.
Therefore, great bosses are able to guide, teach, and direct their team on how to accomplish their set goals.
In doing this, they try not to push or speak in a condescending manner that will make staff feel their efforts aren’t good enough.
More exactly, great bosses exercise discretion in coaching their teams – this way, they only direct and let their employees make the mandatory corrections.
6. Empowering Employees
Everyone likes to feel that their boss values their finesse and expertise.
Therefore, a good boss allows staff to make some decisions with regard to tasks – particularly those within their area of specialization.
By giving them this freedom, employees get the opportunity to prove themselves, by creating solutions and achieving results – without their boss “pumping” them with instructions.
Employee empowerment provides an avenue for workers to become top performers, grow in their careers, unleash their creativity, and build their self-confidence.
7. Respect Employee Perspective
Great bosses do not act like masters. They value the thoughts and concepts of their employees, and are all the time trying to find their perspective.
When a boss asks an employee for perspective and feedback, it makes the worker feel that the boss values them and values their input to the company’s success.
8. Provide Feedback
Great bosses provide timely feedback during projects and assignments. They check in on employees every now and then and supply feedback at every important stage of work – before giving their final feedback at the end of the project.
By providing timely feedback, an effective supervisor gives his staff the opportunity to correct any anomaly in a timely manner, so as not to affect the final outcome.
Furthermore, even when providing negative feedback, great bosses make their reviews constructive and instructive – in a way that encourages rather than hinders staff efforts.
9. Cares for the Welfare of Its Employees
A good boss is not overbearing or hostile. They care about the private lives of their employees. They try to create a certain level of personal connection with their workers – so workers can feel free to talk to them about their concerns.
They ask questions about the well-being of their employees, because they understand that a healthy personal life leads to productivity at work. Which brings us to the next point…
10. Support
Good bosses care and support their staff. They understand that showing emotion once in a while does not make a person weak, so they are not shy about showing their human side.
They understand that their employees aren’t resistant to personal challenges – so when sickness, family emergencies, and other things like that occur, great bosses show compassion and supply support for their workers.
This makes employees feel valued, and drives them towards higher productivity.
11. Sharing Personal Experiences
Workers get lots of motivation when their bosses tell their personal stories.
By sharing stories about their past challenges, and how they overcame them to reach their current level, great bosses encourage their teams to strive towards success. Everyone wants to get ahead in their career, and there is no better place to get the needed inspiration than the workplace itself.
Great bosses understand this, so they use their personal stories to teach and encourage their staff. It also improves the relationship between the boss and the team, as team members feel a personal connection with their boss.
12. Show Appreciation
Great bosses do not hesitate to praise employees when they do well. They do this either privately or sometimes in the presence of other teammates.
But after all, it boosts staff morale, and also encourages them to do better.
13. Identifying the Unique Talents of Each Employee
A good boss is a talent manager. They have a way of observing every employee, to find out what their unique talents are.
Once they identify these talents, they help each employee develop those talents – in a way that will benefit both the worker and the organization. By doing this, the boss helps employees grow and increases productivity.
In addition, it makes employees feel happy when they’re rewarded for making a positive contribution to the company’s growth.
14. Sharing Necessary Information
Great bosses are all the time very transparent with their employees. They don’t withhold necessary information, particularly one that will affect the success of their operations.
While an employer does not need to share confidential and confidential company information with everybody, they do tactically exercise discretion in knowing what to tell their employees and what not.
He updates the team with information on company performance, department issues, company successes and challenges, sales metrics, and so on.
Great bosses also brainstorm with the team on how to solve problems and come up with solutions.
15. Strong Decision Maker
Great bosses think thoroughly about every problem, analyze suggestions and make a final decision. They aren’t indecisive people at a loss as to what to do.
However, this doesn’t make them tyrants or dictators.
Great bosses do due diligence with research, consult relevant stakeholders, and weigh things before making a decision.
16. Structured in Every Situation
Great bosses do not let their emotions get the better of them. They understand how to manage their feelings and react appropriately at work. Even when something goes wrong, the great boss never shows anger. They stay calm and try to find a solution rather than dwelling on the problem.
This trait reduces tension in the workplace and offers employees confidence in their boss’ ability to handle any situation.
17. Treat Everyone Equal
Great bosses treat all employees equally. They understand that giving preferential treatment to some staff and sidelining others creates discord and bitterness in the workplace, so they avoid partiality and favoritism.
In conclusion, every company hates to experience employee turnover, particularly if it means losing their most credible hand.
For this reason, every boss who wants to maximise available human resources must have these traits, and apply them in their daily operations.
I want to thank you for taking the time to read my article on how to be a good boss. I actually hope that its content has been of good help to you.
How does your boss compare the points on this list? And if YOU ARE the boss, how do YOU compare this list?
Are there other traits or skills we are missing?
