The question often looms: Why do we work? Perhaps it doesn�t really
matter why � we all have to work to some degree or another. Some
people work to live and others live to work. Some find a balance
between the two where one flows naturally and seamlessly into
another. We spend every day doing stuff and it turns out, oddly and
intuitively enough, that the people we encounter and work with
influence our experience at work as well. Our colleagues, clients,
peers and bosses, all of those we cross paths with at work bear some
weight on our satisfaction, productivity, creativity and diligence
for the little niches we may find or cultivate.
Let�s look at how one of these groups affects each and every one of
us. Most of us have all had a boss at some point and many of us may
be a boss or have been a boss in the past. In this case, we�ll
consider a �boss� as any position managerial, supervisory, or
executive � really any time someone leads other people. Bosses are
important for this reason, that they lead others through experience,
vision, and honored time.
Not all bosses are created equal, however, and there are certain
trends that make for better bosses. Forty years of combined
experience � one of us as a professional management consultant
(35-years) and the other as a fresh and reflective worker � have
uncovered prime examples of good bosses. To enlighten the modern
workplace and workforce, there are five examples of good bosses (not
mutually exclusive):
1) The Listener
� a boss who will listen to and appreciates different points of
view. This boss hears and honors their employees� thoughts and
considerations respectfully but with a caveat being they may or may
not put these ideas into action. The Listener listens to their
employees because they were hired for a reason. As such, they trust
their employees and value their input. Sometimes, they are even
dependent upon it. The Listener is a good boss because they have
insight beyond their own experience and vision, insight that is
influenced by many angles, and because if their employees are
allowed to voice their own opinions and ideas, they are inspired and
engaged.
2) The Empowerer
� a boss that lets employees run their own show and lets them learn
by making some mistakes. To a degree of trust and support, this boss
cultivates leadership in their team. Working together, they identify
tasks and create a plan, but let the employees decide the nuts &
bolts of how it actually gets done. The Empowerer doesn�t delegate
aimlessly, creating a sense of subordination in their team, but
rather engages their employees from the ground up in a focused
manner. Employees are inspired to take on leadership roles and
collaborate both with their boss and with others. The Empowerer is a
good boss because they can simultaneously ignite productivity,
personal development, and satisfaction among their employees.
3) The Mentor
� a boss that teaches, coaches and guides. This boss doesn�t
necessarily need to be older, but a tad wiser or simply just willing
to share. They seek to understand their employees� experiences and
identify which ones need or want mentoring. The relationship with
their employees is constructive, meaning both criticism and praise
are offered with the intentions of growing the employees set of
skills. An offer to mentor is either explicitly offered or subtly
developed over time. The goal is both in current interest and
looking towards the future, always geared to enhance the employees�
skills. The Mentor is a good boss because they ensure a future for
the employee and the company while inspiring immediate productivity
and engagement.
4) The Cool Dude (or Dudette)
� a boss that has fun and lets their employees have fun. This boss
maintains a certain aura of authority while creating a likable and
lively atmosphere. They let their employees enjoy their time at work
and find time for small diversions, within the confines that the job
still gets done � and done well. At those instances, this boss
rewards their employees with time off or special workplace events
within the realm of a respectable workplace culture. The Cool Dude
or Dudette is a good boss because they understand that all employees
are people, that all people need some kind of fun, and that happy
employees are healthy, productive, and engaged.
5) The Creator
� a boss who inspires invention and creativity. This boss pushes the
limits of their employees to ignite innovation. They challenge
intellect and question the status quo, so that new products and
ideas are developed from within. The Creator embodies the spirit of
imagination and is never overly demanding. Creativity and invention
come from a unique mindset, so this boss correctly identifies those
in their team that are keen to this way of thinking. As such, The
Creator is a good boss because they are motivational and
collaborative.
These five bosses, or rather their respective characteristics,
exemplify what makes for healthy leadership within organizations.
Many bosses may embody many or all of these characteristics. The
best bosses are able to reflect upon their own natural inclinations
and experiences, leveraging their assets and developing areas of
weakness. Common trends amongst these five good bosses make for a
great boss as well � collaborative, communicative, engaging, and
inspirational. Our new cogenerational world is crying out for
leaders � of all ages and generations � and hopefully many of us
will realize that great leaders can exist in the smallest, biggest,
nearest and furthest of places.
Jim Finkelstein is a student and leader of people in business. With
34+ years of consulting and corporate experience, he has specialized
in business and people strategy, motivation and reward, and
organizational assessment, development, communications and
transformation.
Finkelstein received his MBA in Organization Behavior and
Development from the Wharton School of the University of
Pennsylvania and a BA in Psychology and Economics from Trinity
College in Connecticut. His experience includes being a partner in a
Big Five firm, a CEO of a professional services firm, a corporate
executive for Fortune 500 companies, and an entrepreneur with his
current company, FutureSense.
For more information click
here.
