Tips for Being a Better Boss
Being the boss seems like a good deal at first. You are in charge and you have employees under you to follow your directions to accomplish a goal. However, we have all come across bosses who need improvement or who are just plain awful. Making poor decisions while in charge can lead to poor work performance and often leads to low employee morale. Below are a few simple tricks to being a better boss.
Lead by Example
If you are a supervisor, you are expected to ask other people to do some unpleasant tasks at times. There are jobs that always need to be done and no one wants to do them. To earn the respect of your employees, it is important to be willing to do these tasks yourself and to prove you are willing. When asking a newer employee to clean the bathroom at the office, don’t just tell them to do it. Spend a little time helping them complete the task to show you are willing to get your hands dirty. If you are a new supervisor, complete the task yourself the first time. This not only shows your employees you are willing to work hard it also shows them that you are not asking them to do something you would not do yourself.
Be Smart with Vacation Time
A supervisor typically gets more vacation time and has a little more flexibility as to when to use it. Time off is earned and everyone should be able to go on a relaxing and enjoyable vacation but do not put your employees in a bad position by scheduling your vacation poorly. It is best to look at the office calendar early in the year and to know when major projects are due to be completed. Do not schedule a vacation at these times for a number of reasons. First, if you are on vacation who will lead your team at a critical time. Second, your employees might lose a little respect for you if you are not around at a key time and they are forced to pick up the slack. Finally a poorly timed vacation might lead others to question your commitment. So be smart and figure out the best time for you to take your vacations. Target times when things are slower at the office and when your presence will not be missed as much.
Set a Consistent Expectation
Nothing is worse for an employee than to have the feeling they did a great job only to hear the boss didn’t approve. No matter how hard anyone tries, it will take a toll on morale and overall job performance. The best way for a boss or supervisor to avoid being disappointed is to set a clear and consistent expectation. By setting an expectation and sticking with it no matter what, you lay down the framework for success. It is impossible for someone to meet an expectation if it is unclear. In addition, you cannot change what is expected without warning or reason. A staff that understands what they are doing and why they are doing it are usually more committed. A lot of times the question of why things are done a certain way helps employees understand its importance allows them to ensure something is done properly. So don’t change a process without explaining why and don’t change expectations without a clear warning in advance. Doing so can strain the relationship between supervisor and employee and can lead to poor performances.
Be Understanding and Firm at the Same Time
People have lives and they work to support their hobbies and interests. Be aware of this and be supportive and understanding of your employees. However, you must also be able to know when and how to tell someone no when they ask for time off for certain reasons. As a supervisor it is your job to ensure tasks get done on time and someone requesting vacation days at a critical time may slow or delay a task; however, you cannot blindly ignore requests. If someone requests off days at a critical time find out why. Is it something that has to be done then or can it be rescheduled? In addition, it is important to monitor sick days as well. If someone misses a day because of illness, be understanding but also be diligent. If the same person is missing a lot of time because of illness, partner with your companies HR department to help find a solution. If your company is small and does not have an HR department find out if everything is okay with person. Maintaining an open line of communication is key to ensuring that an employees’ health concerns are managed in the appropriate way for the companies and the employee’s best interests.
Be Personable and Approachable
No one likes a boss they are scared to talk to or are difficult to approach. It is important as a supervisor to have an open door policy and to listen to the concerns of your employees. Not only will this help with morale, but this can also lead to improvements in the office. Everyone has ideas, both good and bad, and taking the time to listen will allow you to embrace the helpful good suggestions. Companies with the best results listen to all their employees from the top to the bottom. As a leader it is your job to identify the good ideas and then implement new policies based on these ideas. It is also your job to know when a suggestion is not feasible and to communicate that downward. Being friendly and personable with everyone at the office makes the process of relaying ideas and new directives easier and smoother. Do not be the supervisor or boss who does not listen and acts like they do not care.
Being the boss has a unique set of challenges. Following the five simple tips above can help ease the pressure and burden of that responsibility. Always remember that you are supervising people and to treat them as people and not just employees.
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