How to Be a Great Boss by Joel A. Garfinkle

Author:Joel A. Garfinkle [Joel A. Garfinkle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781612307459
Publisher: New Word City, LLC
Published: 2014-01-13T05:00:00+00:00

Take Action Now

Schedule time this week to do the following:

Take stock of your department or team and make a list of underperforming employees.

Schedule disciplinary meetings with the employees on your list; keep them positive.

If you have an employee who has to be let go, meet with HR to develop a course of action.

A Great Boss Gives Thanks

Saying “thank you” is something we often do without much thought, and sometimes we don’t do it at all. Now is the time to become aware of the power of gratitude.

Writing in the Graziadio Business Review, a publication of Pepperdine University’s Business School, Dr. Charles Kerns says, “Gratitude is not just a ‘feel good’ emotion when it comes to organizational life. It can benefit an organization in many ways. When an employee believes his or her superiors are grateful for his or her work, the employee will benefit by having an improved sense of worth to the organization.”

So how can you lead with an attitude of gratitude?

Start showing your gratitude by composing a list of your staff members. Next to each person’s name, record their positive qualities, skills, and talents. Make a point of acknowledging and thanking people for what they do well. Keep at it until “thank you” becomes a daily habit.

One manager I know starts every meeting with shout-outs acknowledging individuals who have gone above and beyond their regular duties or contributed something specific to their group’s accomplishments. The shout-outs are often accompanied by coffee gift cards or some other small token of appreciation.

When you thank someone, whether in public or private, be specific - mention exactly what that person did to earn your gratitude. “Thanks for pulling that presentation together on such short notice, Mary” is a far more meaningful gesture than “Thanks for all your hard work, Mary.” When an employee feels appreciated for a specific act or behavior, he or she is more likely to repeat it in the future.

If saying frequent “thank you’s” is a relatively new activity for you, make sure you don’t come across as insincere. If you haven’t thanked anyone in a month and you’re suddenly throwing gratitude around like rice at a wedding, your people aren’t going to buy it.

One technique used by successful managers is to write notes to the people on their teams who are making positive contributions. The personal touch carries more weight, so make the note handwritten if you can, but e-mail, text, or even voicemail will work, too. And remember to send a copy of that note or e-mail to your boss.

If you’re lucky, your boss has already mastered the attitude of gratitude and you’re getting plenty of public and private praise for your team’s accomplishments. If that’s the case, make sure to pass that praise on. Forego the opportunity to make yourself look good by taking it back to your team; let them share the warm feelings. After all, everything your team accomplishes will reflect positively on you, and the more you reinforce their accomplishments, the better they will perform.

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