Thoughts on bosses?

[Hassan Darkside]

Alright. So just trying to gain some insight. Let me preface this by saying I'm currently a supervisor over 2 departments with 20 direct reports. Their jobs are more or less unskilled labor. There isn't much opportunity to climb up. Their jobs are jobs, not careers. Some have made it a career. Some have been working there for 25+ years. Some for less than one.

My ultimate question is what makes a good boss a good boss? What type of things should I do to be a good/better boss? What are the types of things does your boss do (or you do as a boss) that you can't stand? What types of things make you feel good about your boss?

On a similar path, what sort of relationship do you or should you have with your boss? I was having this discussion with my counterpart the other day more or less talking about building relationships with senior management. How we shouldn't fear them because of their title and how we should utilize the open door policy to just converse and further our relationship. But where do you draw the line? I've been in other buildings (same company) where someone on my level would go out for drinks with his boss. Is that getting too close to mixing work and play? Or is it good to have a buddy-buddy relationship with your boss as long as you understand that he's still going to hold you accountable? Or is that even 'professional' anymore?

[gopher_guy]

Re: Thoughts on bosses?

Give them some independence, and don't talk to them like they're stupid and most of them will respect you.

One of the managers at the grocery store I worked at in high school was a micro managing dictator. Everyone hated him.

One of the other managers had the attitude of "You all know what's expected of you, as long as you get everything done, we can be friends and joke around together". He was awesome.

[Feared]

Re: Thoughts on bosses?

My ultimate question is what makes a good boss a good boss? What type of things should I do to be a good/better boss? What are the types of things does your boss do (or you do as a boss) that you can't stand? What types of things make you feel good about your boss?

I've worked in some retail jobs through out the years so I've been on both ends of the chain, some of the advice I can try to pass on.

People who work for you/report to you will respect you; If they see that you are a hard working individual, who's knowledgeable in the service field they specialize in, and is possibly someone that's willing to get their hands dirty if needed and not just boss people around and walk away to sit at their desk. That doesn't mean the supervisor gets in and works along side of them, but just that they are available to help answer questions and guide them in the right direction when needed.

Try to connect to some of these people on a personal level. If from the moment they walk into work to the moment they walk out you're constantly hounding them non stop over business matters they will grow to resent you. That by no means is a suggestion to become "buddy buddy" with them but just let them know you have a personality outside of being just a business suit. Every once in a while when the situation is appropriate ask them How their day is going, or how their family is doing.

Basically when it's time to get down to business, it's time to be serious and dig down to get the work done. Let your employees know exactly what is expected of them.. but do it in a favorable way that's not too overbearing; and when things are winding down show them your personable side and that you can do your work, while having fun. Those are the managers people love.

Agreed fully with Gopher on the over Micro-managing is bad. I had a manager at my last job, that wanted to over see every little detail of every job for the day, and he gave every employee at least 3 jobs which barely could get done, and he wanted every little detail reported to him as often as possible. Waaay too much, and he was hated among my co-workers. Research the estimated workload, and try to delegate it evenly, and fairly. You want to have the right people; doing the types of tasks that fit their skills.


Above all good luck.

[daflyboys]

Re: Thoughts on bosses?

Light bantering at work, but never confuse the boundaries. Your work life is your work life and your personal is your personal. Keeping it clean makes present and future endeavors and challenges easier. It eliminates the second guessing on your and their part.

I also believe that providing consistency and honesty along with a calm and confident demeanor goes a long way. Employees can more easily perceive you as steady, reliable and capable of providing the leadership that's needed in given situations. At first, some may gain a skewed perception about it, but I think in the long run, those qualities win out.

[Feared]

Re: Thoughts on bosses?

I also believe that providing consistency and honesty along with a calm and confident demeanor goes a long way. Employees can more easily perceive you as steady, reliable and capable of providing the leadership that's needed in given situations. At first, some may gain a skewed perception about it, but I think in the long run, those qualities win out.

Agreed fully on this part. The calm, confident, consistently steady demeanor style of leadership is much more effective than the ultra high energy, over dramatic, emotional "Rah rah", rule by intimidation type of leader.

Basically don't let emotions dictate your managerial decisions and try to be even keeled, don't get overly frustrated during difficult moments but also temper yourself to not get too emotionally high during positive times of success. It's like you see these Football coaches on TV whose team just won a 48-3 blowout, "Great win for our team and we'll enjoy it tonight, but there's still some things to clean up on film, and we have to move on to the next game in a hurry."

[slickdtc]

Re: Thoughts on bosses?

Feared nailed it on the head with his first post. Not too much else to add.

Knowing that you are willing to work just as hard as they do (or think they do) goes a long way. They don't have a reason to not like you if you do your job well and right and treat people in a respectable manner. Be firm, but don't demand. Find that balance between making sure **** gets done without making your employees feel like they're constantly being harassed to do this or that.

Be transparent and honest with people. If something happens or an issue arrises, as my superior I expect you to have the guts to come to my face and air out any issues you have with my performance. I don't want to hear it from someone else. I've had managers/superiors complain about other employees to me, and it always leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Unprofessional of them, and typically co-grunts stick together against their masters (lol). But I try to operate in a professional manner so I'm not going to run my mouth. But say the wrong thing to the wrong person, and it can get ugly. Don't add problems to your plate. It can be hard to keep it in, but know it is for the best.

The hang-up is that some people are going to have an issue with you regardless of what you do. That's why I say, unfortunately, keep work and play separate. Yeah, you and Johnny can maintain work and play, but Billy can't. It only takes one bad apple to ruin the whole thing. As a supervisor/superior/manager/etc, the onus is on you to make sure issues that don't need to come up, don't come up. Like I said, don't create unnecessary problems.

[GAMEC0CK2002]

Re: Thoughts on bosses?

Everything has been pretty much said. Make sure they know they can come to you and actually be HEARD. That you won't brush their concerns or legitimate questions under a rug.

[mgoblue]

Re: Thoughts on bosses?

I work in the tech industry (web developer), and it's nice to have a boss that doesn't micromanage. If you get your stuff done he lets you have free reign.

If you start missing dates or delivering crap work then he'll pull you back in though.

I just like that trust to let a man do his job. We can post on OS or take breaks, etc...no need to micromanage or crack down. They get more than their fair share of hours out of us if they keep us happy.

[C the Lyte]

Re: Thoughts on bosses?

Lot of good advice in here, and makes me happy to know I do most of that.

I been a supervisor for about 7 months now. Looking back, I've grown tremendously from month 2 to 7. I didn't want to be viewed as going on this power trip, and I've been slack when the situation implies and stern when need be. I try to keep emotions in check, and have always kept business problems and home problems seperate, as best I know how.

I feel like all of them respect me, as we can still joke on each other with no feelings getting hurt. We are all adults and I expect them to act that way professionally and socially, whether it is a job or a career.

My biggest advice I can offer, is listen. Always keep an open mind and ask for their advice on certain situations as they are more hands on in the field than you. I know I don't know it all, and they know they're job better than I. So their perspective offers something different and in turn allows me to think outside the box more. I don't have to act on it if I don't think it's appropriate.

IMO, nothing sucks worse than a "My way or the highway" superior.

[mgoblue]

Re: Thoughts on bosses?

Lot of good advice in here, and makes me happy to know I do most of that.

I been a supervisor for about 7 months now. Looking back, I've grown tremendously from month 2 to 7. I didn't want to be viewed as going on this power trip, and I've been slack when the situation implies and stern when need be. I try to keep emotions in check, and have always kept business problems and home problems seperate, as best I know how.

I feel like all of them respect me, as we can still joke on each other with no feelings getting hurt. We are all adults and I expect them to act that way professionally and socially, whether it is a job or a career.

My biggest advice I can offer, is listen. Always keep an open mind and ask for their advice on certain situations as they are more hands on in the field than you. I know I don't know it all, and they know they're job better than I. So their perspective offers something different and in turn allows me to think outside the box more. I don't have to act on it if I don't think it's appropriate.

IMO, nothing sucks worse than a "My way or the highway" superior.

Good points. Listening is key. We're having some cross-group communication problems here, so my boss is listening to each group, letting us all get out our issues, and then helping us all solve them.

I never "bitch" to my boss, per se, but the boss has to hear issues that affect your work or the company. It's his job to try and keep you happy, otherwise you may leave.

That stuff matters more in my industry where a good web guy can find a job somewhere else easily...