Nobody wants to work for a bad boss; you’ve probably worked for one yourself. The captain of the ship needs to be in control and able to rally the workforce and unite everyone around common goals. It’s not an easy thing to do, but that’s what all top business leaders achieve. Here are some ways you can become a better boss today!
Make Sure Accomplishments Don’t Go Unrecognised
Motivating your workforce is a big part of being a great boss. And the best way to show you that you value your employees is offering them rewards and bonuses when they’re performing well. What kind of reward you offer is up to you. It could be a straightforward cash bonus, or it could be something more imaginative.
This practice shifts the focus away from negative aspects like where the company is failing and focuses on what’s being done well instead. This isn’t a pointless strategy either. If your employees are being rewarded for doing things well, they’ll be more likely to put in more effort and continue to strive for success.
Get Help When You Need It
You might think that the best bosses are the ones that take control of everything and don’t take help from anyone. That isn’t true though. You’re not superhuman, and, like everyone else, you should take help when you need it. This could mean loosening the reins and handing over more responsibilities to your staff or outsourcing areas of the business.
Some people still aren’t convinced of the benefits of outsourcing, but it’s becoming increasingly popular in the business world. If you are finding yourself short on time, it can be a great option for you. Outsourcing is a lot cheaper than hiring experts but still allows you to use the talent of experts.
Be Open to Criticism
Nobody is perfect, and nobody is infallible, that applied to business owners and bosses too! Every constructive workplace should be free and expressive. If people have concerns about your leadership style or demands, they should be able to offer constructive criticism and challenge you.
This kind of criticism is healthy, so don’t take it badly. True, nobody likes to be criticised, especially when you’re passionate about what you’re doing. But being stubborn and unwilling to listen to criticism won’t help you, your employees, or your business. It might take a while to get used to, but you’ll come to understand the value of constructive criticism in the long-term.
Make Your Boundaries Clear
There’s a difficult balance to strike when it comes to setting rules and boundaries in the workplace. You don’t want to come across as oppressive or authoritarian, but you don’t want to be too lax and permissive either. You should decide what your boundaries and priorities are and stick to them.
It’s also very important to make sure that everyone in the office understands where your boundaries are too. If they don’t know the rules, they won’t be able to follow them. If you have some rules that you cannot permit being broken, assert them clearly but calmly, so that everyone understands.
Treat Your Staff as Human Beings
It’s a simple bit of advice, but, if you ask me, not enough business owners and bosses choose to follow it. Your staff shouldn’t be spoken to as if they’re inferior to you, that’s not a good way to create a productive atmosphere in the office. You should be on the same level as your staff and treat them as such.
Merely treating them as a means to an end isn’t treating them as human beings either. Get to know them and take an interest in them as individuals. Personal bonds between employers and employees are vital. It’s a simple way of showing that you care and value them as people as well as staff.
Let Your Employees Share in the Business’s Success
Unfortunately, a lot of business owners have a reputation for being greedy and selfish. This isn’t how you want to be seen. But if the business is doing well, but you’re the only one in the office feeling the benefits; that’s exactly how you’ll be seen. To change that, you should think about making things fairer.
There are lots of ways in which you can let your employees share in the success of the business. You could tie employee pay to performance, that way they would receive more money when the business does well. Or you could give each employee a share of the company, so they’re invested in its success.
Offer Health Support Perks
Perks can help boost employee morale and can be a great way of convincing your best employees to stick with your company when they’re be tempted by other offers. The safest bet to go for when deciding which perks to offer is health care. We all care about our health, so offer your staff private health cover.
Employee assistance providers can do the hard work for you. Just do a deal with them and they’ll provide the health and social care for your whole workforce. This can be good for your business too because they aim to reduce absences and sort out problems as soon as they arise.
Be Open and Approachable
Sometimes, things can get heated in the office. If an argument ensues, you need to be there to act as an impartial balancing point. Don’t take sides and don’t show bias to particular employees over other. Everyone in the office should feel like you’re on their side and that they can come to you with anything.
This attitude should extend to every aspect of the business. You should be positive, encouraging and approachable in the office. No one wants to be working for a negative and gloomy boss. If you’re that kind of boss, your employees won’t feel like they can talk to you where there’s a problem.
No one ever said being a boss easy; it’s a constant learning process. But, eventually, you’ll find the approach that best suits you and your business, let these tips help you get there!