It’s no secret that some bosses are better than others. Why? Are they born that way, or did they learn how to be a great boss sometime during the course of their careers? I personally believe there are certain things the very best leaders consistently do, and that anyone can learn how to be a better leader.
Here are 7 things that the best bosses always do. Are they a part of your own approach to leadership?
- Have a vision
The best bosses have a vision for what their company can be, and how they and their employees can play a vital role in achieving it. They communicate this vision in inspiring ways that motivate and engage their people, their customers, and their communities.
- Support their team
The very best leaders support their people through thick or thin—providing them with the training, resources, and authority they need to get their jobs done well.
- Exude quiet confidence
Confidence is something that the best bosses have in abundance. But it’s not the brash, arrogant kind of confidence that automatically turns people off. Great leaders are quietly confident—strong, but humble. Their confidence attracts people instead of repelling them.
- Delegate responsibility and authority
The best leaders know they can’t do everything themselves—it’s just not possible. So they make a point of delegating tasks to their people, training them when necessary, monitoring their progress, and helping out if needed. And they don’t just delegate the responsibility for tasks, they also delegate the authority necessary to get the job done.
- Communicate effectively
Communication is a critically important skill for anyone in business, but especially for leaders. The best bosses are masters of communicating with their people, and with customers, vendors, and other stakeholders.
- Reward and recognize
You get more of what you reward, so the best bosses take time to reward and recognize their people when they perform well. And you don’t have to spend a lot of money to do it. A simple verbal or handwritten “thank you” is all it takes.
- Have fun
The typical workplace is a very stressful place to be. In fact, a survey by the American Psychological Association found that 65 percent of Americans cited work as the top source of stress in their lives. The best bosses know that one of the most effective antidotes for workplace stress is to take time to have fun. Impromptu miniature golf tournaments, talent shows, and paper airplane contests are just a few of the ways that some companies find time for fun.
