What Makes Your Good Boss - Good
My best boss ever was Mr. Powell, who mentored me in a management program for Bank of America in the '70s. He was an "older man" (probably in his early 50s then) with a beautiful British accent.
Mr. Powell was the epitome of an outstanding manager, respected by his staff and adored by our customers. He set a standard for excellence that I've rarely seen equaled to this day.
The Impact Your Good Boss Has on Your Work
I've learned to temper criticism with a compliment and/or humor. And never engage in office gossip - it will inevitably come back to bite you. Although I am no longer in management, I have used my experience as a reminder to try to understand the problems a "middle manager" has on occasion - stuck between demands from the top and complaints from beneath.
Tips and Tricks
- Counsel in private
- Praise in public
- Don't play favorites at work
- Encourage "brainstorming" for projects
- Reward top producers regularly: Preferred parking for a month, name on a plaque.
- Keep your own office door open most of the time, but respect your employees' need for privacy when busy or with clients
- Boost morale by giving occasional gifts to the office as a whole: a tray of deli sandwiches or a delivered pizza and soft drinks. I knew one manager who hired a masseuse to come in and give neck and back rubs to her sales people. Needless to say, they were the envy of their peers.
