Maybe you’re a first-time manager or maybe you’ve been leading a team for awhile: whatever situation, you have this sinking feeling that you aren’t performing at your very best when it comes to properly managing a team.
Indeed, managing people is no easy feat. In many cases, it requires you having to put others’ needs before your own, carve out time to check in with people, juggle all kinds of personalities, and take responsibility for mistakes that your direct reports might make. But as with so many things, often managers come to love the responsibilities of the job, finding reward in coaching and mentoring their team to success.
If you’re not sure you’re performing up to the task, or just want to brush up on your skills, check out the signs below of what makes a good boss.
1. You know how to delegate.
Being able to delegate tasks is something many new managers struggle with. Some managers feel they should do everything them self, failing to challenge their employees or let them share in the responsibility. Other managers do the opposite, delegating everything they have and sitting back and watching their teammates do 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.
2. You don’t play favorites.
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.
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3. You don’t gossip about other employees.
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.
4. You encourage your team to come to you with questions and problems.
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. Also, always be ready to listen before you act — the best bosses know they don’t know everything. Keep an open mind.
5. You are transparent.
At a time when anyone can find out how much they should be earning at your company, it’s important to be transparent yourself. If someone’s not performing to their best, be clear about it and offer some solutions. If someone’s been asking for a raise and you know they won’t be getting one, don’t string them along. Be as transparent as possible without being hurtful or unprofessional and your employees will thank you for it.
