There are many kinds of bosses. Nice bosses, nasty bosses, power-hungry bosses, placid bosses, insecure bosses and so the list goes on. So what kind of boss are you?
Are you a person who tries to be a kind boss? Maybe you prefer to be liked more than respected? It’s difficult to do your job properly if you aim to be liked by all your employees. Some employees believe they can do a better job than their boss because they don’t fully understand all the responsibilities the boss has on their shoulders.
The best kind of boss wants to be respected but does nothing with that in mind. The boss who wants to be liked does everything while thinking of how they’re viewed by their staff. It’s a very fine line between being a good boss and being too weak and naive to be a real boss.
If micro-managers are like babysitters, then the bosses we all hope to have are like great coaches. Coaches inspire and bring out the best in their team. Micro-managers slowly suck the life out of you.
Everybody knows a micro-manager, but nobody claims to be one. Certainly, bosses view themselves differently than their employees see them. 1 in 3 managers say they use a coaching style, but only 1 in 5 employees agree (according to this Adecco study). So, here’s our take on some of the most distinctive attributes of an inspiring coach and a micro-manager.
Take this quiz and see what kind of boss you are. What else would you add to this list?
1. Who controls your time?
A micro-manger tells his employees when to come and go. He may (or may not) “allow” you to leave early before a holiday. You’ll have cringe-worthy conversations with him about working from home and mandatory meetings.
A coach trusts the team to be responsible for their time and meet outcomes. He rewards you for the results you produce, rather than how much overtime you’re putting in. Team meetings are optional and you feel free to skip them if you’re not needed.
2. Who inspires you?
A micro-manager is controlling and critical. Work has to be done her way, or it’s not good enough. In fact, the micro-manager assumes you have to be watched and made to stay on-task. If you make mistakes, she’s the first to criticize and belittle. She’s the last person you want to ask for help.
A coach inspires and supports her team. She encourages creative ways of approaching work and lets you decide how to get the best results. When you make a mistake, she’s there to figure out what went wrong and help you get back on track. You know she’s got your back.
When all is said and done, being a boss can be bloody hard work. Which is why so few do it really well…..
- http://www.smh.com.au/executive-style/management/blogs/management-line/good-boss-bad-boss-20110220-1b0q8.html
- http://pinterest.com/pin/138696863494565352/
- http://www.coursepark.com/blog/2012/03/what-kind-of-boss-are-you/
I hope you liked my post and you can find more info in the above links.
Susana.
