8 Qualities That Make Great
Bosses Unforgettable
I
remember all of my bosses.Some were bad.
Most
were good.
But
only one was, in the best possible way, truly memorable.
Unforgettable
bosses possess qualities that may not show up on paper but always
show up where it matters most -- in the minds and even hearts of the
people they lead.
Here
are some of the qualities of truly unforgettable bosses:
1.
They believe the unbelievable.
Most
people try to achieve the achievable; that’s why most goals and
targets are incremental rather than inconceivable.
Memorable
bosses expect more -- from themselves and from others. Then they show
you how to get there. And they bring you along for what turns out to
be an unbelievable ride.
2.
They see opportunity in instability and uncertainty.
Unexpected
problems, unforeseen roadblocks, major crises... most bosses take
down the sails, batten the hatches, and hope to wait out the storm.
A
few see a crisis as an opportunity. They know it’s extremely
difficult to make major changes, even necessary ones, when things are
going relatively smoothly.
They
know reorganizing an entire sales team is accepted more easily when a
major customer goes under. They know creating new sales channels is a
lot easier when a major competitor enters the market. They know
reorganizing manufacturing operations is a lot easier when the flow
of supplies and components gets disrupted.
Memorable
bosses see instability and uncertainty not as a barrier but as an
enabler. They reorganize, reshape, and re-engineer to reassure,
motivate, and inspire --
and in the process make the organization much stronger.
3.
They wear their emotions on their sleeves.
Good
bosses are professional.
Memorable
bosses are highly professional and yet also openly human. They show
sincere excitement when things go well. They show
sincere appreciation for hard work and
extra effort. They show sincere disappointment -- not in others, but
in themselves. They celebrate, they empathize, they worry.
Sometimes they
even get frustrated or angry.
In
short, they’re human. And, unlike many bosses, they act as if they
know it.
Professionalism
is admirable. Professionalism -- with a healthy blend of humanity --
is inspiring.
4.
They protect others from the bus.
Terrible
bosses throw their employees under the bus.
Good
bosses never throw
their employees under the bus.
Memorable
bosses see the bus coming and pull their employees out of the way
often without the employee knowing until much, much later... if ever,
because memorable bosses never try to take credit..
And
if they can't, they take
the hit. (And later speak privately to the employee in question.)
5.
They’ve been there, done that... and still do
that.
Dues
aren't paid, past tense. Dues get paid
each and every day. The true measure of value is the tangible
contribution we make on a daily basis.
That’s
why no matter what they may have accomplished in the past, memorable
bosses are never too good to roll up their sleeves,
get dirty, and do the “grunt” work. No job is ever too menial, no
task ever too unskilled or boring.
Memorable
bosses never feel entitled, which means no one feels entitled to
anything but the fruits of their labor.
6.
They lead by permission, not authority.
Every
boss has a title. That title gives them the right to direct others,
to make decisions, to organize and instruct and discipline.
Memorable
bosses lead because their employees want them to lead. Their employees are motivated and inspired by the person, not the
title.
Through
their words and actions they cause employees feel they work with not for,
a boss. Many bosses don’t even recognize there’s a difference...
but memorable bosses do.
7.
They embrace a larger purpose.
A
good boss works to achieve company goals.
A
memorable boss also works to achieve company goals -- and achieves
more than other bosses -- but also works to serve a larger purpose:
to advance the careers of employees, to rescue struggling employees,
to instill a sense of pride and self-worth in others. They aren’t
just remembered for nuts and bolts achievements but for helping
others on a personal and individual level.
Memorable
bosses embrace a larger purpose onal.
8.
They take real, not fake risks.
Many
bosses, like many people, try to stand out in some superficial way.
Maybe through their clothes, their interests, or a public display of
support for a popular initiative. They do stand out but they stand
out for reasons of sizzle, not steak.
Memorable
bosses stand out because they are willing to take an unpopular stand,
take an unpopular step, accept the discomfort of ignoring the status
quo, and risk sailing uncharted waters.
They take real risks not for the sake of risk but for the sake of reward they
believe possible. And by their example they inspire others to take
risks in order to achieve what they believe
is possible.
In
short, memorable bosses inspire others to achieve their dreams: by
words, by actions, and most importantly, by example.
No comments:
Post a Comment