When you are a leader in a business, you want to do the best by your employees as much as you want to do your best by your business in general. Some people go to work every day and hate the job they have and the boss they have – and you don’t want people to feel that way when they come to work for you – right?
There is no rule that says you have to be a horrible boss. Just because you are in a position of power doesn’t mean that you have to take that [power and make people fear you. Bullying isn’t cool, and most people who leave their jobs don’t do it because they dislike the work – they do it because they dislike the boss they have. If you can ensure that people are happy and feel respected and appreciated in their role, you’re going to have an extremely loyal workforce who want to work with you for the foreseeable future. Not only is this good for you, it’s great for your reputation as an employer!
It’s not complicated to be a boss. You are a good person with drive and ambition – which you can translate through your leadership at work. Being a good boss is something that can be as easy as being a good person. However, there’s nothing wrong with having some tips to help you along the way. Here are eight ways you can be a fantastic boss!
- Be Reasonable About Goal Setting. Every person working for you wants to have goals to hit and something to accomplish. However, you need to make sure that the bar to reach is reasonable for them. Ensuring that they have a manageable workload is going to help you to ensure that you have a motivated and happy workforce, rather than an overworked and burnt out one!
- Invest In Training. It’s so important that you think about the training that you are offering your staff. From designated employer representative training to additional education programmes that will help them to upskill, you can ensure that you are appealing to your employees when you offer them the chance to improve. People want to use their job to do better for the promotion or the next step that they want to take – be the boss that offers this!
- Be A Leader. You do not need to dictate to lead. Remember, these are adults who are spending eight or more hours of their day with you to get your business to the point of success. If you are a good leader, you can do this without making anyone feel bullied or fearful about being at work.
- Be Positive. It’s important that you work to maintain a positive atmosphere in the workplace when you are leading a business. You will have motivated and more productive employees when you are positive, and if you watch for the people doing the right things in the business, you’re going to be able to praise them for their efforts!
- Ask Them For Help. Employees will often thrive when they are asked for advice. You may be the bigger leader and the boss of the whole thing, but you hired a bunch of experts to make your business a success. Why wouldn’t you ask them for their help if you need it? Make them feel involved and as if they are a part of something, and you’ll enjoy longevity from your employees.
- Start Listening. When people are talking to you, are you really hearing them? The people who work for you are going to have big opinions and big ideas, and you should listen to them. These are the people working on the floor while you are out there and making your business a success. Let them help and start listening to their opinions. Good and bad, they’re going to be the people that you should turn to when you need to get advice about progressing your business.
- Be Impactful. As a boss, you need to know when you should pick your battles with your employees. If you ensure that you are allowing your people to spread their wings and try their strengths, you have a better chance of being impactful in your industry.
- Be Personal. Believe it or not, there are employers out there who believe that their employees are just a number working for them. Be generous with your praise and your attention and get personal with them. Ask them about their lives outside of the business – they’ll appreciate every second of it!
