It’s the boss’s job to manage a workforce whose labor will meet a business objective(s), whether the business involves service, production or research. To be a good boss requires a variety of skills including leadership and motivation, communication, planning and budgeting, problem-solving, and personnel management. Understanding your boss’s world will enable you to help your boss be successful, which will pave your way for advancement. As an employee who became a boss, here are six key things that I learned about how most good bosses operate that can help drive your own career success.
A good boss is always observing their workforce. Coming in late, sneaking out early, getting caught playing solitaire on your computer during working hours, not keeping up with your timesheets or reporting deadlines, are small behaviors that will not go unnoticed. They will also notice how well you collaborate and how you treat others. They may not say anything about it at the time, but they are always observing and will store that information away to use if the behavior becomes a problematic trend.
A good boss values staff who make the effort to see the big picture and how their role fits. Do you understand how your work drives your employer’s mission, and are you aligned with the mission? If not, then you’re a potential problem that the boss will have to solve. If you understand the importance of your role, do you take ownership of that responsibility? Can you think strategically about the business and spot opportunities or emerging challenges? If so, your boss may look at you as a good candidate for promotion.
A good boss appreciates it when you alert them to issues, but would prefer that you also deliver solutions, or at least recommend actions for their consideration. Employees who show initiative and are capable of problem-solving will be remembered when it comes time to administer salary increases or fill higher-level positions.
A good boss praises and rewards those who deliver outstanding results, or who go above and beyond what is expected of them. I quickly learned not to expect praise for just doing my job. A good boss also uses success to raise the bar on performance expectations. I also found that the reward for success was often the assignment of more difficult work and greater responsibility. I came to understand that was the boss’s way of communicating that they trust you to get the job done. If you have a good boss, that earned trust will be rewarded and pave the way for future advancement.
A good boss looks for employees who take ownership of their careers, who have personal goals, and are constantly looking to develop new skills and grow professionally. Once you stop making the effort to grow, your boss will assume you lack interest in advancement and will look elsewhere when assigning professional development resources and advancement opportunities. Ambition can be a two-edged sword. A bad boss may be fearful of being displaced and prefer a complacent workforce. By contrast, a good boss understands that high performing subordinates with ambition are the key to their own success. A good boss is also happy when a successful subordinate leaves the nest to pursue professional advancement. As a boss, it expands your professional network, and the success of your alumni enhances your own reputation.
Lastly, a good boss keeps a forced ranking of their staff from best to worst using various criteria. Even if they don’t keep an actual list, this is a calculation they must make as a decision-making tool when allocating promotions and pay raises or making downsizing plans. Which staffers are the most critical in their skills, functions or programs to meet the current business objectives? Which staffers consistently overperform? Which staffers contribute the most to team synergy and morale? Which staffers solve problems instead of creating them? Which staffers would be hardest to replace? They will weigh these factors and others to formulate their rankings. As an employee, you want to make sure you are as high up in their list as possible, and not just doing the bare minimum to get by.
If your boss isn’t doing these six things, then you have to ask yourself, what am I getting from this job apart from a paycheck? A good boss will help you climb the ladder of career success. A bad boss is afraid of the potential competition and will find ways to hold you back.
