Think back to your very first job. You probably don’t remember all the details of your day-to-day life, but chances are good you remember your boss.
With many of us spending most of our waking hours at work, it makes sense: our managers are critical to our satisfaction. And the more experience you gain in the working world, the more you understand what it is that makes a good boss or bad boss.
In honor of National Boss’s Day 2018, here are 10 things the best bosses do.
1. They listen.
Some managers make the time to sit with employees, but everything they hear goes in one ear and out the other. The best bosses not only take the time to regularly check in with employees, but really listen to what they have to say during those check-ins. Good bosses make eye contact and don’t look at their phones, particularly in situations where an employee is sharing sensitive information. They also don’t snap to instant judgments: if an employee seems to be complaining about an assignment, for example, a good boss will listen to the reason without immediately dismissing him or her as just not wanting to take on the responsibility. The best bosses know they don’t know everything. Keep an open mind.
2. They ‘go to bat’ for their employees.
It’s important to feel that your boss is someone who supports you and wants you to succeed. In your career, you’re bound to make mistakes and be put in tough situations, and having a boss who looks out for you can help get you through those times. Look for bosses who show you that they have your back — who stick up for you when you’ve been dealt unfair criticism or coach you through a fraught client situation. Also look for the bosses who ask you where you want to go and what you want to do with your life — they may be your biggest champions in helping you get there.
3. They strive for clear communication and transparency.
At a time when anyone can find out how much they should be earning at any company, it’s important that managers be more transparent than ever. Still, nearly half of all people say their manager needs to work on their communication, according to a survey by Comparably. If someone’s not performing to their best, a great manager will be clear with them and offer some solutions. If someone’s been asking for a raise and a manager knows he or she won’t be getting one, a great manager won’t string the person along. Great managers are transparent as possible without being hurtful or unprofessional.
4. They delegate well.
Being able to successfully delegate responsibility is something many managers struggle with. Micromanager bosses — the most despised of all bosses, according to data by Comparably — tend to do this poorly because they don’t trust anyone enough to get the job done. Other bosses are the opposite, delegating everything they have and sitting back while their teams struggle under the weight of it all. There’s a healthy middle ground somewhere in the middle: good bosses delegate fairly, distributing work in a way that leaves them room to address big-picture items and drive team vision but also shows they’re more than willing to get their hands dirty.
5. They reward their teams.
It’s easy to get caught up in the everyday hustle, but great managers take the time to celebrate success. As a boss, it’s important you take the time to recognize achievements great and small. The surprise factor is also appreciated: great bosses know that small things, like bringing in bagels and coffee for the team for no apparent reason except to reward them for a job well done, can lift morale.
6. They don’t treat everyone the same, but they do treat everyone fairly.
One of the most discouraging situations for an employee to be in is to feel that their boss doesn’t like them as much as they like someone else. While it’s human to feel closer to some people than others, it’s important as a boss that you treat everyone fairly. That doesn’t mean everyone the same — different people are motivated by different things — but it does mean spreading your attention evenly along the team so that no one feels left out.
Related: Survey: 48% of People Say Communication Is Their Boss’s Biggest Weakness
7. They don’t engage in gossip.
As a boss, it’s important for your employees to trust you. That’s why you shouldn’t engage in gossip about other employees; if you’re telling one of your team members about their colleague’s bad performance or horrible fashion sense, that team member is going to believe that you would talk negatively about them behind their back, too. Keep it cool and don’t be the person who speaks behind anyone’s back. You’re the manager and you need to set a positive example for everyone else.
8. They encourage questions.
Are you the type of boss who only has her door open once a week? Kick the habit. Yes, you’re busy, but the message you’re sending to the team can be a huge downer on company culture. Interact with your team. Remind them that they can come to you with questions and concerns. You’re there to serve them and you can’t do that without some real interaction.
9. They take interest in their employees’ interests.
It may sound silly, but great managers see their employees as people, not just “cogs in a wheel.” As a manager, take the time to get to know your teammates for who they are. That doesn’t mean prying into their personal life, but it does mean paying attention to what they share with you and the rest of the team. Even something silly, like asking your “Bachelor”-obsessed project manager who she’s rooting for in the final episode, will put you a cut above the rest.
10. They laugh.
Working day in day out for someone who doesn’t seem to find any joy in life can be soul sucking in and of itself. The best bosses don’t have to be stand-up comedians (and probably shouldn’t be), but they should be able to share a laugh with their employees. After all, work can be hard, and having a sense of humor helps.
