How to Be (or Get) a Better Boss
Not hitting your targets? Wonder why your team doesn’t just love to come to work every day? Do YOU love to come to work every day? Here’s how to make it better. And if you’re not the ‘boss,’ you can request that your boss incorporate these consistent practices!
ONE. Connect the dots
Help your team members understand how the work that each of them does is connected to the “big picture.” We all want to know that our work is valuable. When you clearly tie each team member’s work to the overall department, division and/or company’s objectives, you will increase value for your team.
TWO. Set and say clear objectives
If your team isn’t hitting the target then it may be because you haven’t told them what the targets are. Or maybe you haven’t told them clearly enough.
Have you ever tried to shoot an arrow at a target in the dark? How about flying a plane with no instrument panel and blindfolded?
Establish clear expectations, targets, and objectives. Say the expectations out loud to your team or individual members. Write the objectives and expectations down. Check up on the objectives on a regular basis daily, weekly, monthly, whatever makes sense to identify shortfalls before the situation becomes a crisis.
THREE. Hold people accountable
I know this can be hard. Especially if you’re trying to be that boss who is also a friend. But this is kind of like being a parent and a friend at the same time. It doesn’t generally work.
Here’s the bottom line. We all want to understand clear expectations and to receive clear feedback on how we’re doing. When you ask someone to do something, check in to see if they’re doing it. And if not, why not? Maybe it’s a lack of understanding, or resources, or ability. Whatever it is, you need to know that it’s happening and you need to provide the support needed to help your team member be successful.
FOUR. Meet regularly and be consistent
Most of us like to know on what (and whom) we can depend. Make your meetings with team members one of those dependable things. Decide what you will cover in a group and what you will cover one-to-one and do that consistently. When you meet one-to-one, establish an agenda to use consistently.
FIVE. Develop your team
Ask each team member, “What do you want to be doing in three years?” Ask them to create three actions that will move them toward their three-year goal. Look for opportunities for their development goal activities to increase skills for their ‘day-job.’ For example, if your team member wants to write a book, are there opportunities for them to expand writing experience in your work? And, if you have a team member who wants YOUR job, that’s even better. Take time to train that person on your role so that YOU can move up too.
