9 Smart Things That
Fantastic Bosses Do Every Single Day
Looking for a great boss, or trying to be one? You need to pay
attention to these 9 habits.
Your company is only as good as your people, and that
starts with the top brass. Bosses have their brand's future and their
employee's happiness in their hands. This can seem like a big feat to tackle,
to say the least.
However, cultivating respect in the workplace
isn't accomplished all at once. Instead, it's about a series of daily habits that
mesh together to create leadership that engages people and instills trust in
them too.
Here are some things the best bosses do on a
daily basis that make them wildly successful leaders. Sprinkle these into your
daily routine, and you'll be sure to have a happy workplace:
1. They stay far away from micromanaging
Take it from
actress and producer Tina Fey, who wrote in her memoir Bossypants, "In most cases being a good boss means
hiring talented people and then getting out of their way." If you're
constantly trying to control every inch, you'll detract from the work quality
of everything, while quickly dissolving trust in your team.
Instead, be an amazing boss by taking comfort
in the fact that you hired your employees for their talents and qualifications.
Trust them to handle the finer day to day details, while you worry about the
big picture, and you'll both be saner and more successful.
2. They make the time to reinforce good work
During a busy workday, many bosses only make
the time to speak to their team when something "needs" correcting.
Amazing bosses, on the other hand, know that a little bit of praise goes a long
way, and that pointing out good work leads to further successes.
This is not to
say you shouldn't call out poor performance - but Harvard
studies have found the ratio of positive to
negative reinforcement should ideally sway more towards the former. So if you
notice an employee staying late to get a jump start on a project, make sure to
verbally let them know you see and appreciate what they're doing.
If you boost morale, you boost productivity
and profitability in the workplace and maintain the well-being of your team.
3. They actually listen
We've all had bad bosses, and nine times out
of ten poor communication is at the heart of the issue. Instead of dolling out
orders constantly, amazing bosses practice active listening-a tool that many
point to as the make-or-break factor for communication.
Studies have
even found that active listening accounts for
40% of leadership success. By actively listening, you're not
only understanding the information, but you're letting the person speaking to
you know that as well.
Some easy ways to start doing this are to say
"tell me more", to show that you're listening, or to provide
feedback.
4. They stay mentally and physically fit
Besides the obvious health dangers, you
simply can't be a good boss if you're running on three hours of sleep every
day. Being a successful and well-respected leader starts with having the
physical and mental stamina to keep up with the job.
Even hard
working, busy bosses like Bill Gates and Oprah Winfrey find time to exercise, read, and rest on a daily basis.
Penciling "me time" in daily ensures you stay sharp and on top of your game before you
even set foot in the office.
5. They evaluate themselves
I'm sorry to be the one to break this to you,
but there's no such thing as the perfect boss. And amazing bosses know that
better than anyone, so they welcome personal feedback with open arms.
Don't be afraid to ask HR or your staff what
your strengths are and what you could stand to improve on. Taking constructive
feedback in stride is one of the most powerful ways we can grow as leaders. As
a day-to-day routine, try checking in with yourself at the end of every work day
- this will ultimately make you a more receptive and self-aware leader.
6. They understand the ins and outs of every
job
There's nothing more irritating than a boss
who orders deadlines and deliverables on something he or she has zero knowledge
about.
Chinese billionaire and founder of Lens
Technology, Zhou Qunfei, is an example of what amazing leaders do instead.
She's famous for being a hands-on boss, who can operate all the machinery in
her factories.
In a profile feature about Qunfei, writer David Barboza notes, "When she
passes a grinding machine, she is apt to ask technicians to step aside so she
can take their place for a while." Granted, you don't need to know how
every printer works, but you do need to take the time to understand specific
positions and the challenges that go along with them.
7. They encourage constructive arguments
There's nothing people hate more than
meetings that waste time and kill productivity, so make yours count by
encouraging your staff to speak their minds.
Shonda
Rhimes, a titan television producer of shows
like Grey's Anatomy, finds that innovation and creativity springs
from constructive dissent. "Don't come and pitch me a problem. You have to
pitch me a solution," she says. "If you're going to be in a room, you
have to talk ... If you're going to talk, don't just agree with me; I love
nothing more than people who are willing to argue. If you're not willing to
argue, you shouldn't be in that room."
The best ideas are collaborative, so let your
team know their voices and ideas matter.
8. They articulate a clear vision
Your team is (hopefully) after more than just
a paycheck - they're driven by a passion to make a difference. However, many
forget that this starts at the top-if you don't relay to your team why they're
doing what they're doing, who will?
That's why I
take the time every Monday to cheer on my team, and put our tasks in the broader context of our mission. To fuel your
team's passion, you should do something similar. It's always worth the effort
to frame the daily grind in terms of the big-picture.
9. They also make time for fun
You spend more time at work than almost
anywhere else, so if your team doesn't have a personal connection or enjoy
being there, they won't stick around for very long. Plus, who doesn't like to
have fun?
The beauty of leading your own firm is that
you can replace the stifling corporate atmosphere with an environment people
are happy to step into. So lead with a smile-fun starts at the top, so don't be
afraid to step out of "boss mode" for a little while to ensure your
team is having a good time.
BY ELLE KAPLAN
http://www.inc.com/elle-kaplan/9-things-that-fantastic-bosses-do-every-single-day.html?cid=em01016week37a
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