How To Be A Better Boss
 By Alex R. Merriman

If you want to know how you’re doing as a boss, take a look at your employees.

Are they enthusiastic about their jobs? Are they brimming with ideas about ways to improve your small business? Do they jump at the opportunity to take on new roles and responsibilities?

If you’re not seeing those kinds of positive attitudes and actions around your office, you’d better brush up on your boss skills.

Being a great boss pays off for your business whether you have one employee or a dozen. Good bosses reduce employee turnover, which saves money and time in hiring and training. They keep employee morale riding high, which increases productivity. And they make the workplace more enjoyable for employees, which reduces absenteeism and coworker bickering.

Here are seven things you can do today to start being a better boss.

1. Be accessible
Keep your office door open. Walk around and talk to employees. Be available when employees have questions or need your guidance. Show concern and interest about issues that employees consider important.

2. Delegate
Show confidence and trust in your employees by delegating responsibility. Give them the opportunity to make decisions and take action when needed. Let employees apply their skills, knowledge and enthusiasm toward goals, without you peering over their shoulders and micromanaging tasks.

3. Lead by example
Want your employees to provide excellent customer service? Show them how by setting an example with the next customer you encounter. Need employees to show up on time every day give 100 percent? Want them to act ethically? Then do the same yourself. Your actions, your words, your attitude tell employees what you expect. Remember, everyone is watching you for clues on how to behave and how to perform.

4. Be an inspiration
Don’t keep employees in the dark and uninspired. Explain to them your vision for your small business. Share your business goals, your plans, your hopes with them. Show them how they fit into those goals and plans, how their contributions are important. Make them see that their efforts, energy and brains are crucial to building a better business in the future.

5. Be fair
Every employee is different. Some are self motivated. Others are underachievers. Each deserves fairness from you. Those who show strong skills and accomplishments should get recognized and appreciated. Don’t reward star performers with heavier workloads just because you know they can handle it. That’s not fair. Employees who lag behind should get explanations, feedback, training and follow-up reviews. Don’t allow under-performing employees to drag down your whole operation. If your coaching and mentoring doesn’t improve performance, don’t be afraid to terminate the employee. That’s only fair to the rest of your team.

6. Offer praise often
The next time you see employees doing something right, give ‘em a high-five or an “atta girl.” It takes only a moment. Make sure you have good reason to offer the praise, otherwise it will appear insincere. And be specific. Did the employee show initiative? Did he finish a job ahead of schedule? Did she catch a mistake that saved your business some money? Acknowledge those actions promptly and genuinely express your appreciation.

7. Be open
You don’t have to share the most intimate details of your life. But occasionally sharing a bit of your personal side will help employees understand you and see you not just as a boss, but as a human being too. Your openness will also encourage employees to be more open with you. Over time, you’ll develop a genuine feeling of connectedness with your employees, and them with you. That connection will do more to improve productivity and morale than any other perks your small business can offer.

(Posted July 2006)

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