What constitutes a good boss? In my opinion......

This is a tricky one for me to write as my mind automatically goes to the bad bosses I have had. And there have been a few, which is possibly why I know I wouldn’t be a great boss. Hand on heart I’m not sure I’ve ever had a good boss for any great length of time. But in my world of coaching, who we were work for comes up so many times. So, I’m going to write this from the viewpoint of what I know people want from a boss. What I wanted. What people talk to me about wanting to be themselves when they lead a time.

Vision and Clarity.
You would think this was an easy one but apparently not. Maybe your boss is getting mixed messages themselves but what individuals want is effective communication of goals so the whole team knows where they’re going. If you know where you’re going, you can figure out how to get there. And of course, there may be twists & turns along the way but if we have a sense of purpose, we can achieve great things.

Empathy & Support.
If you look around at the team, you are part of, whether that team is professional, social, family, we are all different. And a good boss understands the unique talents, skills, and aspirations of each team member. An empathetic approach can create a supportive environment where individuals can feel valued and motivated. By listening, a good boss can give constructive feedback, offer support when needed and create a really good culture for growth. 

Professional Development.
Can you imagine working for someone who wants to nurture your professional career? This can be through training, mentoring, courses, people management, a good boss will recognise potential in employees and work with you to develop these. Never underestimate how much people want this but a good boss will also appreciate that not everyone wants to be the next Head of, and that is also OK.  

Leading by example.
This is a biggy for me and the saying “Actions speak louder than words” springs to mind. Consistency & dedication to inspire a team, demonstrating their own qualities with integrity, accountability, and that every faithful one, communication!  

Promoting Autonomy and Collaboration.
There can be a find balance between these two and a good boss will understand the importance of both. Freedom to make decisions and take ownership. Open communication, sharing of ideas and teamwork are vital. Never underestimate the power of giving someone ownership, so someone can flourish.  

Recognition and Appreciation.
No matter what personality traits someone has, most people respond really positively to recognition and appreciate for their hard work. A good boss understands this and ensures that their team feel acknowledged and value. Celebrate achievements, give feedback, and express gratitude. This will boost morale and instil pride & loyalty.  

In conclusion, having a good boss can be career changing. We can talk nostalgically about good teachers we remember so why not have that with a manager? A positive work environment is as important now as it ever has been. And by knowing what the complete opposite of this, lets give credit to the amazing Managers out there that we know. Because in turn, they want the same for themselves on their leadership journey. So, when looking for a new job, never underestimate the relationship with your new boss. Spend as much time throughout the process thinking about that as well as the job that you’re applying for. Because so many people leave their job because of their boss. So why not join a company because of the boss, there are some pretty amazing ones out there.