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What Do You Deserve This Bosses’ Day?
By Richard Hadden and Bill Catlette
What kind of boss are you?
We suspect it's a question we don't ask ourselves often enough. But as we approach October 16, the day we in the U.S. observe National Boss Day, maybe it's time for a little reflection on our effectiveness as leaders of people.
OK, so National Boss Day is one of those pseudo-holidays contrived by a conspiracy of greeting card companies, florists, and restaurateurs, but if nothing else, at least it gives us pause to take a look in the managerial mirror each October. And if you don't like what you see, remember that you' re the one who controls the image.
People don't leave organizations. They leave managers who have failed them in some important respect, and jobs that bore them.
So what are you doing to earn the kudos, cards, flowers, and lunches that will be showered on many of you this Bosses' Day? Here are a few things we' ve learned about great bosses - those who attract, retain, and motivate the best and brightest in their fields.
1. First, great bosses realize that most people don't need a boss as much as they need a leader. They're clear about the route of the march, that is, the objectives, the standards, and what has to be achieved, but they don't map out every step.
2. Great bosses aren't unduly impressed with their positions. One of us has a 25-year-old son who just got his first managerial job. Our advice to you is the same as it was to him. Nobody died and left you in charge. You have been appointed, not anointed, a manager. Get over yourself. You put your pants, skirt, or uniform on the same way your employees do. You didn't suddenly wake up one morning and become a different person just because you' re someone's boss. Remember that your first responsibility is to lead people to greater results.
3. They express appreciation for routine tasks, as well as for outstanding performance. We can't believe we even have to mention this one, because it's so obvious. But we'll keep bringing it up as long as managers keep forgetting to say thanks for the thousands of seemingly unremarkable tasks that get done every day, and without which the business would certainly fail.
4. Great bosses keep hiring and performance standards high. They don't suffer slackers. They don't buy into the myth that in a tight labor market, you have to hire anyone who can exchange gases with the atmosphere, nor do you have to settle for substandard work. Instead, they have a habit of attracting extraordinary groups of people to do extraordinary work. In short, they expect a lot, and they get it.
5. They involve employees in decision making. Great bosses understand why they were issued two ears and one mouth. Instead of imposing their plans on the workforce, they actively solicit - and use - in fact depend on - the involvement and engagement of their employees, those closest to the work, and to the customer.
6. Great bosses tell the truth…even when it hurts. They tell the truth about the company's performance, and about individuals' performance.
7. They realize that people have lives outside of work. While maintaining high standards of performance, they show that they care about their employees as individuals. They make this deal with their employees: I'll do everything I can to help you balance work and home, and you do everything you can to meet the needs of the business. Fair enough?
8. Great bosses are there when times are tough. When Hurricane Andrew wiped out most of South Florida in 1992, Tony Burns, CEO of Ryder System, the transportation and logistics company, was out distributing groceries to his employees, despite the fact that his own house was nearly destroyed in the storm.
Oh, and a few more things about great bosses:
9. Great bosses don't expect their people to pay for their mistakes.
10. They don't let anybody abuse or humiliate their employees.
11. They give people the freedom to pursue some things that are important to them.
12. And finally, great bosses know when and how to keep the system off their employees' backs.
Now, what about your own boss? Everyone's got one. Looking for ways to show your appreciation? Something a little more creative than a card and lunch at the nearest watering hole? For what they're worth, here are our ten suggestions on how to treat a Contented Cow leader on National Boss Day.
1. OK, go ahead and take her to lunch. But then surprise her by arranging with her boss to give her the rest of the day off...with no reason to worry about what might happen while she's gone.
2. Treat him and his spouse or guest to a chauffer-driven night out.
3. Arrange for a get-together of former employees the boss has mentored and developed, and who have moved up the ladder in the company, partially as a result of the boss's leadership.
4. Arrange private golf (tennis, painting, bowling, sailing, etc.) lessons for her.
5. Put together a book signed by each member of the workgroup, listing the most important thing each has learned from the boss.
6. Take his car out to get washed and detailed. And return it with a full tank of gas.
7. Make a donation in her name to her favorite charity.
8. Conspire with his family to get a favorite family photograph enlarged and professionally framed for his office, so he'll remember why's he's working all those hours.
9. Buy her a day at a day spa.
10. Give him an honest performance review. Tell him what you like about the way he leads your group, and what he could do to improve. If he's truly a great boss, he'll appreciate the input, and implement changes.
Please print the following attribution for this article: Bill Catlette and Richard Hadden, co-authors of Contented Cows Give Better Milk, help clients clobber the competition by having a focused, fired up, and capably led workforce. They deliver powerful conference keynotes and leadership training. They can be reached at 800-940-7006 (+1-904-720-0870 from outside North America) or www.ContentedCows.com.