Are You A Good Or A Bad Boss? Find Out Here!
The question we raised in our title can be subjective. Ask your employees what a good or a bad boss is, and their answers will vary. Somebody might tell you a good boss is somebody who allows plenty of time off and is generous with the size of the wage packet. This, of course, can be detrimental, and positive or negative, depending on whether or not your company’s budget can afford such luxuries for the staff member. Another person might say a bad boss is somebody who is too strict about rules and regulations. However, rules are there for a reason, so any responsible employer should adhere to them, no matter how stringent. So, there isn’t always an easy answer. On the other hand, there are definite qualities that will define how positive or negative your leadership strategies are.
So, are you a good or a bad boss is? The following might help you decide.
A good boss is somebody who cares about helping their employers to move forwards. They enjoy seeing their staff members progress, and training opportunities and delegating new roles, are a priority when trying to help employees gain a foothold on the career ladder.
A bad boss is somebody who is frightened of their worker’s getting above their station. They expect nothing from the employee, other than them doing the job they are supposed to and going home at the end of the day. They probably single-handedly dismantle the rungs of the career ladder as well.
2. A good boss gives the employee freedom to get on with the job at hand. While they will guide the staff member with a gentle push in the right direction, they will sit back and allow the employee to use their initiative in getting a job done.
A bad boss will micromanage everything. If they don’t like the way the employee is handling something, they will interfere, possibly nitpicking at the staff member in the process. In short, it’s either the boss’s way or the highway if the employee doesn’t conform to their leader’s way of doing things.
3. A good boss won’t give up on learning for themselves. From taking part in local management training courses to learning new cultural methods such as Kaizen, the boss will always try and better himself and his company’s operation. Oh, and if you asked yourself ‘what is Kaizen?’ Follow the link and find out.
A bad boss thinks they know everything. Learning is for the weak, as they have already achieved their lofty position through dedication and grit. They will rely on old methods of doing something, and when somebody asks them why they aren’t operating in the cloud yet, the bad boss won’t have a clue about what they are talking about.
4. A good boss is firm but fair. When an employee steps out of line, the boss will make a strong decision, even if it makes him unpopular. He cares for the staff, but lines need to be drawn, and if a conflict arises, it will be dealt with honourably but professionally.
A bad boss is one of two things. Either they are mean and degrading with their criticism, regardless of the employee’s feelings. Or, they shy away from conflict, and shut their door and their ears to any potential failings within their team. When it comes to fight or flight, it’s the latter, every time!
Final word
So, are you a good or a bad boss? No-one’s perfect, so don’t worry if you are a mix of the two categories, but if you have noticed any of the negative traits we mentioned, start to change your ways. For everybody’s sake!
Related Articles:
