Being a boss can be something that people fall into almost by accident, and when this happens, they may have had no formal training or experience in leading others. This can mean that they are unsure of what to do, and therefore become harsher and harder on their staff than they should do. Or they can be worried that they will be seen as too strict, and therefore become too lenient. Either way, these are not good traits for a boss to have. Learning to be a better boss doesn’t have to be a difficult thing, however, and this blog should help you understand where you can turn next and how you can be better at what you do.
Set Reasonable Goals
As a boss you will necessarily have a lot to do, and often too much for one person to handle alone. This is why you have employees so that they can help you to shoulder the burden. However, in order to be a good boss you will need to learn how to delegate sensibly, so that you don’t give anyone too much to do, and you always work to their strengths. If you ask people to do too much, you will find that not only does the work not get done (or at least, not to a high enough standard) but that your employees start to resent you. Once that happens, it will be difficult to ask them to do anything at all.
Don’t Dictate
A good boss will lead, not dictate. If you want people to do as you have asked, then you will need them to respect you – authority alone doesn’t necessarily mean respect, so you will need to learn how to inspire them to get the best work out of them. To do this, you should show that you are willing to do the work yourself and that you appreciate what they are doing for you. You don’t need to be their best friend – in fact, that’s a bad idea if you want them to work hard for you – but you do need to show them that you are on their side.
Reward
Hard work always deserves a reward, and as a good boss, it is your job to organize those rewards. They might be for individuals in the form of bonuses or promotions, for example, or they could be for the whole team; you might have a day out at an escape rooms or go for a good meal in a restaurant. If your employees know that you are happy to reward good work, they are more likely to work harder for you.
Look To Yourself
As a boss, you will need to scrutinize the performance of your team, but it is just as important to look at your own work. This will be the most inspiring thing for other people, and if they see that you are constantly reviewing what you are doing, they will respect you for it and be willing to follow your lead.