Some are natural at being a good boss, while others need help. If you fall into the latter category, here are some practical tips on how to be a good boss.
You’ve risen the ranks, and, now, you’re the boss. But you’re not just satisfied with the promotion you want to make sure you’re good at your new job, too.
Because only one-third of workers are inspired by their boss and only half think their boss values their opinion you’re doing the right thing.
Your instincts can help guide you to becoming a great leader, as can actionable tips and we’re to help with the latter. Here’s how to be a good boss.
1. Know Your Employees’ Strengths
Start by getting to know your team. Observe each employee and remember their strengths and weaknesses. You can also ask them, where do you think you’re most successful in your job?
Good bosses will use this information to help them choose who does what. Letting each person play to their strengths will make them happier on the job and more productive, too. And they’ll be thankful that you allow them to succeed in their way.
2. Be Clear With Your Expectations
As you assign tasks to your team, don’t mince words. Clear communication is one of the main characteristics of being a great boss.
So, start at the top and work your way down. Ensure job postings give an accurate description of what the role will entail. Once you hire a new team member, make sure they’re clear on each bullet point.
Then, keep your team updated. As responsibilities shift, tell everyone what to expect and how to prepare. With your guidance, change won’t be stressful or scary it will be a positive step forward.
3. Give Good Feedback
Employees want to know how they’re doing and how to improve. Unfortunately, they don’t get enough feedback from their bosses. As of 2016, a whopping 65 percent of workers said they craved more constructive critiques from their managers.
You can quickly fix this by sitting down with each staffer at a regular clip. Aim for once a quarter, then check in with your team. If they want more one-on-one feedback, then choose a more frequent interval.
Regardless of the regularity with which you meet, strive for concise, clear feedback. Focus on their job performance, and go over areas of improvement first. Then, move onto the positives it’s great to end on a high note.
4. Reward Hard Work
Being a boss means you get credit when your team performs well. But you know that it’s a group effort and you should reward your staffers accordingly.
Always highlight people who have gone above and beyond while on the job. It could be as simple as mentioning their hard work in a team email. Or, you could hand out even larger prizes, depending on your employee incentive ideas.
It’s no secret that people want to feel appreciated. Showing your team that their work is valued is what makes a good boss.
How to Be a Good Boss — Lead With Heart
As you can see, it doesn’t take much to learn how to be a good boss. You just have to show your team care and compassion and put each of their unique talents to work most fruitfully. With that, you’ll become a great leader and your employees will love working for you.