An Ideal Boss (Leader)

 

Figure 1 - Super Boss

The success of our professional life is determined by the knowledge, skill, and experience gained from the very beginning of our professional life. Based on these factors, one of the biggest barriers to success is leadership.

We meet many types of bosses and leaders in our professional life and we can recognize a real leader based on our experience. Recognizing and integrating those qualities into our lives opens the way for us to become a leader instead of just being a boss.

But how to become a unique leader from Boss? Let's explain about it in this blog.

"The true mark of a leader is the willingness to stick with a bold course of action — an unconventional business strategy, a unique product-development roadmap, a controversial marketing campaign — even as the rest of the world wonders why you're not marching in step with the status quo. In other words, real leaders are happy to zig while others zag. 

They understand that in an era of hyper-competition and non-stop disruption, the only way to stand out from the crowd is to stand for something special." (Bill Taylor, August 03, 2010)

Figure 2 - Be the very Best Leader

Who is “THE BOSS”

The simplest definition is “A boss is an individual who is in charge of the organization. He is someone who takes control over employees, orders assigns tasks and duties to them” (Ranjitha S, Oct 7, 2022)

The difference between a boss and a leader has nothing to do with job position, at a glance, the same. They’re both individuals who lead another group of people. The terms boss and the leader are often used interchangeably but both boss and leader have different connotations.

Even more crucially, when a boss vs. a leader is in practice, there is a huge difference.

The Boss is a strong personality who focuses on business outcomes rather than relationships. Whereas, Leaders take measures and make positive changes in relationships, business practices, and communications.

Qualities of an Ideal Boss

‍Here are some qualities that can distinguish an Ideal boss or a LEADER.

 

1. An ideal boss must have a clear vision

    For an ideal boss to effectively lead his or her team, they need to have a clear vision of exactly what     they want to achieve at work and in which direction the team should be going.

 

2. Knowing how to execute the vision

‍‍    A best boss should easily communicate their specific vision to subordinates. The vision ensures            focus, alignment, and efficiency.

 

3. Set clear performance expectations

    One of the attributes of an ideal manager is to set clear performance expectations by providing the        employee with a very specific job description that lays out all expected tasks that include employee        goals.

 

‍4. Decisive‍

    Good bosses are decisive; they do not get caught up in never-ending loops of analysis paralysis.

 

5. Is available for employees

‍    The ideal manager is one who has an open-door policy and is available for subordinates when they        need him or her.

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6. Provides consistent feedback and coaching

‍    An ideal manager helps employees understand when they are doing a good job and communicate            when they are not meeting requirements. Often employees do not even realize when they are not            meeting requirements. It is the manager’s responsibility to coach and develop them.

 

7. Set high standards and be demanding in terms of goal achievements

‍    The qualities of a good boss are that they set a high bar for achievement and demand good results

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8. Shares credit with Staff

    An ideal boss always remembers to acknowledge and recognize the input of subordinates and team        members.

9. Cares about the well-being of staff

‍    What makes a good boss is one who genuinely cares about the happiness of their staff.

    Providing good and safe working conditions; enabling career growth for employees; and providing        monetary rewards such as promotions, pay raises, and bonuses. Providing good competitive salaries     and benefits; opportunities for professional training and development challenging work assignments     and offering regular feedback and praise.

 

10. Respect employees

    The attributes of an ideal boss include treating subordinates with respect.

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11. Share personal experiences

‍    Good boss qualities involve sharing personal experiences that demonstrate their vulnerabilities and        help employees appreciate the human side of the ideal manager.

 

12. Makes work fun

‍    Doing the job must be interesting. While working people must have fun and enjoy their job this will     make them more productive. Incorporating fun activities, events, and organized playtime for                   employees gives them something to look forward to.

 

13. Empower staff

      An ideal boss gives staff the freedom and authority to make decisions within certain tasks and areas       of their expertise. Employee empowerment can likewise lead to creativity and innovation where the       staff figures out better, easier, faster, and efficient ways to do their daily processes.

 

14. Fosters team development

    Great bosses have good team leadership skills that foster team development. The attributes of an            ideal boss entail knowing how to gather the troops and get them all headed, in unity, in the same            direction.‍

 

15. Regularly praise the staff on a job well done

‍    Employees do the work of the organization and great bosses care about what employees think and        proactively solicit employee feedback.

 

16. Do not micromanage

    The best way to show staff, you don’t trust them is to micromanage them. To constantly peer over        their shoulders and watch their every move like a hawk.

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17. Listens to employees and values employee perspectives‍

    Employees do the work of the organization and ideal bosses care about what employees think and        proactively solicit employee feedback.

 

18. Rewards for good performance‍

    Employees go to work with the intention of doing a good job and should be rewarded for meeting        and exceeding job requirements. (Deandra, November 14, 2023)

Literature Review

• Leads With a Higher Purpose – A Best Boss has a purpose beyond self-interest and profit that is put into action on behalf of the individual.

 

• Activates Potential – A Best Boss observes, values, and takes steps to activate the present capability and future potential of the individual.

 

• Grants Autonomy – A Best Boss imparts knowledge, business acumen, and big-picture thinking, and establishes an autonomous space for the individual to perform.

 

• Provides Pervasive Feedback – A Best Boss seamlessly uses frequent and diverse feedback to constructively shape, reinforce, and/or modify behavior.

 

• Encourages Risk-taking to Accelerate Learning – The Best Boss fuels reasonable risk-taking to ensure learning and realizes that mistakes are a natural part of the growth process.

 

                                                        Figure 3 – Behaviors of a Best Leader

Figure 4 - Be a Better Boss and Leader

What inefficient bosses do that makes employees leave

Here are some of the top manager issues that cause employees to quit their jobs, according to a survey of 1,043 employed U.S. adults conducted by The Harris Poll for Yoh.

 

Show disrespect for employees in lesser positions                          53%

Break promises                                                                                 46%

Overwork employees                                                                        42%

Have unrealistic expectations                                                           42%

Play favorites                                                                                    40%

Gossip about other employees                                                          39%

Be overly critical                                                                               37%

Micromanage their employees                                                          35%

Don’t listen when employees voice their opinions                           34% (Dori Meinert, May 30, 2019)

Human Resources needs to be a driving force behind management development, as successful managers empower successful business outcomes

 

Leadership training and development

The process can begin with offering training and development opportunities for leaders, encouraging them to fill their skills gaps.

HR can take an active role in impacting leadership development by celebrating leaders’ strengths and identifying where they can do better.

They can also be instrumental in suggesting courses or offering mentoring opportunities to suit.

Promotion systems

When people are promoted into leadership positions, it’s HR’s responsibility to ensure they’re suitably trained and supported to be able to manage their new position.

This means creating an effective system around promotion, ensuring leaders are effectively onboard and supported through initiatives such as mentoring, training programs, and coaching.

Employee-centric approach

HR should ensure that an employee-centric approach is maintained when it comes to developing leadership. Managers at all levels need to follow a people-centric leadership model, and HR needs to facilitate this.

Helping managers take a team-based approach

Comprehensive management is about more than performance reviews and workflows. It’s about inspiring teams and motivating them to do their best work. The business management team will keep employees happy through good leadership. This comes back to having effective promotion, hiring, and training systems in place to ensure the right people progress into the right leadership roles.

HR and senior management collaboration

Managers shouldn’t be left to their own devices when it comes to creating and rolling out initiatives. HR needs to be across these strategies to help document them, encourage employee buy-in, and support leaders in achieving positive business outcomes. HR needs to collaborate and work alongside the business leaders to ensure expectations are met and processes are followed. (JAMES COOK UNIVERSITY, MAY 21, 2019)

 

                                                                    Figure 5 – Conclusion

Conclusion

This is a big one. In many job satisfaction surveys, employees point out their dislike of their boss when he or she takes all the credit for an accomplishment.

One of the most demotivating things a boss can do is either ignore or forget to acknowledge the input, contributions, and work of others.

It uplifts the spirits of the team when a boss publicly points out the good work and individual contributions that staff have done in making a specific project a success. It also strengthens collaboration and trust among the team.

References

Dori Meinert, (May 30, 2019), Building a Better Boss [Online]

Available at: https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/news/hr-magazine/summer2019/pages/building-a-better-boss.aspx

[Accessed on: 11/18/2023]

Luke Henderson, (November 8, 2023), How To Be A Good Manager [Online]

Available at: https://niftypm.com/blog/how-to-be-a-good-manager/

[Accessed on: 11/18/2023]

The Lee Group, (2023), Top Qualities of a Good Leader, A Good Boss [Online]

Available at: https://theleegroup.com/top-qualities-good-leader-good-boss/

[Accessed on: 11/18/2023]

Insperity Staff, (2023), Mastering leadership: 10 must-have traits of great bosses [Online]

Available at: https://www.insperity.com/blog/traits-of-great-bosses/

[Accessed on: 11/18/2023]

Simplilearn, (Oct 11, 2023), 10 Leadership Theories to Master for Managerial Success in 2024 [Online]

Available at: https://www.simplilearn.com/top-leadership-theories-every-manager-should-know-article

[Accessed on: 11/18/2023]

JAMES COOK UNIVERSITY, (MAY 21, 2019), 5 WAYS HR CAN HELP DEVELOP LEADERS [Online]

Available at: https://www.thehrdirector.com/features/leadership/5-ways-hr-can-help-develop-leaders4222019p/#:~:text=HR%20should%20ensure%20that%20an,know%20what%20effective%20leadership%20is.

[Accessed on: 11/18/2023]