Leadership is about so much more than words; it’s about actions, and any good boss out there knows that. The way that you speak to your staff should be polite and courteous, but the way you respond to queries for remote work and extended time off will help you to show that you are a better boss than most.
If you are in a position of leading a business, you are going to be constantly watched by those working for you as well as your suppliers. People will be expecting you to act a certain way, and they will be expecting you to offer the right employee benefits to be considered respectable. But what could you be doing to be a better boss? Let’s take a look at five ways that you can do exactly that!
Practice being better. From bringing your employees in every month to talk them through their goals, to making a point of getting to work earlier than your staff, you need to practice at being a better boss. If you act like one, you’re going to be one! If you expect respect from your team, then you should give them the respect you expect, too. You can keep practicing being better at your job in the way that you treat your people.
Listen. It’s such a simple concept but so many leaders just don't listen to the people working for them. You need to listen to feedback from your employees and start talking to them about your plans for the business while listening to their plans for their futures, too. It’s a busy life, being an employer for a larger company, but that doesn't mean that you slow down on listening to others.
Stop playing favourites. If you currently play favourites in your office, it’s time to stop. It’s nice to have people you like, but there is a line between being professional and being a mate in the office. It causes anarchy in the office and it ensures that there are some people who feel as if they don't matter as much as others.
Show kindness. You may have parents working in your office, and they will have school events and parent nights to go to. You need to remember that they are human beings without your business and you have to be kind and let them go to these events, offer time off and duvet days to those who need it. Your employees are not machines; they need time from you to be more efficient and effective employees.
Don't hold any grudges. People in your employ will make mistakes; they’re human so it will happen. Don't hate them for it. Learn to laugh it off and teach people how to be better. When you offer training as part of the employee benefits and you make an effort to help them be better for next time, you will be a better boss as a result. Take time to get to know how your staff learn, and you’ll see the benefits.
