Top 5 Things I Wish the Boss Did

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I’ve had a lot of bosses and there are always things I wish they did. Some were subtle and others a little broader.


So here’s my top 5:

  1. Fire the Lazy Worker – Everybody knows X, Y, and Z do no work. They are a drain on the system and it is painful to see they get paid same amount or more. Everybody knows, you included, and you aren’t doing anything about it.
  2. Share your calendar – People want to know what you are up to. It helps us get a sense of what is going on in our department and is quite easy.
  3. Smile some more – Nobody likes going to an office where the boss is always done and depressed about our work. The type that says what we are doing doesn’t matter. How do you expect me to care if you don’t?
  4. Reassurance – Bosses often only say thanks or congrats or good job at the end of a performance review. I think it’s super key to provide reassurance along the way when good work is being done.
  5. Take a break – Good bosses tell everyone to take a break – celebrate a birthday, someone leaving, or a new award. Give people a half-day when they are stressed.

Check out some of my other “Top 5’s”


Top 5: Gov’t Shows That Should Exist

Top 5: Tips For Summer Interns


Top 5: Best Places to Have a Government Job

Top 5: Worst Places to Have a Government Job

Top 5: Reasons You Didn’t Get the Promotion

Top 10: What Works in Social Media

Top 5: Ways to Handle a Boring Meeting

Top 5 Signs You Need a New Job

Top 5: Ways to Look Important at the Office

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11 Comments

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AJ Malik

1. Think you know everything. Listen to the people around you. Ask for their input when appropriate. Keep an open mind.

2. Don’t let yourself be human. Just because you are the boss doesn’t mean you can’t be human, that you can’t laugh, or show emotion, or make an occasional mistake.

3. Don’t take time to get to know your people. Learn what makes them excited, how to motivate them, what they fear or worry about. Get to know them as individuals, because that’s the only way you can effectively manage them. Your people are what will make or break you in your quest to be a good manager. Give them your attention and time.

4. Be afraid to do anything. Maybe you are not sure you can do the job. Don’t let that keep you from doing the job the best you can. Upper management wouldn’t have put you into the job if they didn’t have confidence that you could handle it.

5. Don’t worry about problems or problem employees. When something comes up, it is your job to figure out the best solution and get it done. That doesn’t mean you can’t ask for other’s input or assistance, but it does mean you are the person who has to see it gets taken care of.

Christopher Whitaker

Well, given the difficulty of actually firing somebody I can see how the lazy person would get on people’s last nerves.

Henry Brown

Communicate more!

If the bosses could find the time to communicate, IMO the Lazy worker would go away whether by involvement or by them leaving thus eliminating that issue completely.

In most cases most employees can appreciate, and help resolve issues if someone takes the time to explain more fully the process and as @Steve says provide reassurance along the way when things are going good.

Smiling is important but a fake pasted on smile IMO is much worse than taking the time to explain, in a positive way, why work is making you depressed.

Really good bosses not only tell everyone to take a break but tell the employees why the break is deserved AND participate in the breaks

GovLoop

Love AJ’s comments..

I’d add to #2 and say “share information about what’s going on at senior meetings/presentations. I always loved to see what my boss was presenting about my group elsewhere.”

Caryn Wesner-Early

A co-worker came into my office yesterday and said he was taking a poll: what one thing should *everyone,* regardless of circumstances, be able to do? Or, in other words, what one thing would make the world better if everyone did it? I said, pay attention. I think this is a good thing for everyone to do that isn’t done enough, and it’s especially a good thing for bosses to do. Some people work their hearts out going the extra mile, but since the manager isn’t paying attention, they get no recognition and burn out. Or someone is being difficult at work, but if you’re paying attention to them, you know what the problem is and why it’s affecting their work. I think it really would make the world better if everyone, especially bosses, paid attention.

GaLiberal

Fire the Lazy Worker – Everybody knows X, Y, and Z do no work. They are a drain on the system and it is painful to see they get paid same amount or more. Everybody knows, you included, and you aren’t doing anything about it.

Did it ever occur to you that YOU may be seen as the “lazy worker” who is just a “drain on the system?” This is so typical of the narssistic view of your fellow co-workers. Not everyone has the same priorities or agendas so one person my view another as lazy or incompentent just as that person may be viewed by others as a brown noser or management’s lacky. Get beyond the lables and do your fracking job!

GaLiberal

My top 5:
1. Allow me to work from home full time
2. Don’t bug me for work updates every day or even every week.
3. If I make a mistake, don’t hold on to it forever.
4. Give a fair and honest apprasial AND actually help me improve on weaknesses.
5. Be my advocate even if it might harm your career.

GovLoop

GALiberal – I think we agree on that people need to do their jobs. That’s basically my point – it’s frustrating as an employee who does their job when others don’t pull their weight.

Lori Hudson

Here are mine:
1. Create an environment for creativity to blossom
2. Share the credit for successes
3. Keep everyone informed…especially the receptionist!
4. Walk around and visit with employees; ask questions
5. Regularly applaud and reward good work on the spot