THE GOOD BOSS

Quite a number of us want to be bosses; bosses of our own personal businesses or bosses over a set of people wherever we may be working for our monthly stipends. And there's nothing overtly wrong with that. But being a boss in whatever capacity means we will be at the head of someone or a set of people, people who need to carry out certain instructions of ours to ensure that our business, office or organisation makes progress. After all, you cannot be a boss if there's no one following you.

Being a boss or a manager entails that those following you must be led in the right direction. But being a good one entails more than that. While some may argue with some of the points I've listed below, it is worthy of note that they are tried and tested points and would give you and your organisation great mileage in the pursuit and accomplishment of the organisation's goals. 

And to achieve that, the people working with you really need to be treated as human beings with brains inside their heads. Don't I know that there are difficult employees with agenda that are often contrary to that of the boss and/or the organisation? Of course, I do. But before the mighty hand of hammering discipline finally descends on them, a good manager should take out time to do all he/she can and give them the very best of benefit of doubts; because not every employee is negatively predisposed to their working environment.

So, what mustn't a good boss do?

1. HE MUST NOT BE ARROGANT

When a boss constantly prevents his employees from getting ahead by always demeaning them all in an attempt to prove his own competence and superiority, it shows that he is an arrogant fellow. And if not checked, that could become a destructive element and force within the organisation as he now has power over employees' work assignments, promotion opportunities, and performance reviews.

2. HE MUST NOT BE UNCLEAR

An unclear boss is one who doles out confusing directives to his employees or those working under him. Such directives tend to leave the employees guessing as to what he really wants from them. And it can be really frustrating as well as they also become unsure of what to do, which in turn negatively impacts on the organisation's goals.

3. HE MUST NOT BE A MICRO-MANAGER

When a boss constantly interferes with an employees assignments or projects and is unwilling to allow the employee control over them, he is said to be a micro-manager. This style particularly passes across to the employee the impression that he or she doesn't really have the mental capacity or ability to do the work that was entrusted into their hands in the first place. And it can also really irritate. Why give me an assignment to do when you won't even allow me handle it my own way? What's the point?

4. HE MUST NOT HAVE UNREALISTIC DEMANDS

When you never give your employees sufficient time to complete whatever assignments or work that is given to them, that's being outright unrealistic. It puts undue pressure on their minds and will definitely affect their work. Mistakes can even ensue and thus have negative impacts on the goals of the organisation.

5. HE MUST NOT BE INSECURE

The boss who constantly tries to block the progress of staff because he doesn't want the skill of any employee to overshadow him is insecure. Such a boss is, in truth, a stumbling block of progress to the organisation himself as he definitely isn't the sole harbinger of knowledge and skills on the planet and so is preventing the organisation from benefiting from the gifts embedded inside others.

6. HE  MUST NOT LACK INTEREST

Almost similar to Number 5 above. This boss deliberately ignores the talent of his employees. And this makes it impossible for him to be able to get the best out of them because he doesn't really know the people working for him and doesn't take time to determine where they can excel based on their talents.

 

7. HE MUST NOT BE A SELECTIVE LISTENER

This kind of boss believes that all the answers are with him and that his staff do not have the adequate knowledge to contribute meaningfully to the project at hand. As a result, he rarely listens to what they have to say no matter how fantastic and profitable their ideas may be. Again, such an attitude is detrimental to the progress of the organisation and he would be doing it a whole world of good by changing that attitude.

8. HE MUST NOT BE UNDULY PROACTIVE

Again, when a boss feels that only his skills are good enough and are able to save time that will ensure that the job is done quicker, he is said to be unduly proactive. Such an attitude prevents the employees from learning how to solve problems on their own. It does not allow them to be adventurous and proactive in their own thinking but instead makes them feel like robots that are only there to do a certain bidding. It is an attitude that is always discountenancing the intellect and abilities of the staff. This is also detrimental to the progress and growth of an organisation.

9. HE MUST NOT BE SELF-SERVING

A boss who is self-serving is one who likes to take all the credit and will never allow his employees or staff gain the recognition they deserve for successful assignments or projects. He is purposely preventing employees from advancing in the organisation, possibly because he feels threatened or simply because he has an ego problem. Either way, it is detrimental to the organisation regardless of the level of accolades he manipulates himself into.

To be a good boss, the aforementioned above are very key. And we all need to heed them, whether we are in charge of offices, companies, our personal businesses, a small or large group of people, shops, restaurants, airlines, etc.

It is very important that we take out some time to pause and ponder on these...