Awesome!

When one of your employees is asked about you as a manager, do they say one word – AWESOME!  Here are some tips that might make that happen.

1.  Feedback.  Talk to your employees regularly.  You don’t need formal meetings, you can call someone in your office and give them a quick suggestion.  Remember that feedback should be specific with emphasis on what you want the employee to do.  Keep it about the behavior, not the person.  Avoid giving feedback through email or text.

2.  Always have time for your team.  Put your people first and your own work second.  Manage this effectively by blocking out time in your schedule specifically for your people.  Walk around and listen to what is being said.  Bring up your awareness of what your team needs to do their job effectively.

3.  Find your balance.  Being too “hands-off” can leave your employees isolated.  Micromanagement can drive employees crazy.  Check in at least once a week.  Ask your employees how much interaction allows them to do their best work.  Strike a deal with your employees that they can let you know when your management is too much or too little.

4.  Being friendly enough.  You want to be seen as friendly and approachable.  Be sure to set clear boundaries so you won’t be seen as playing favorites.  It’s more important that your employees respect you first and like you second, not the other way around.

5.  Clarity.  Productive employees know what they are working for and what their work means.  They can prioritize their workload effectively so their projects and tasks get completed in the correct order.  Align your team’s goals to the mission of the organization.  Have regular team meetings to discuss what team members are working on, who needs resources and to create solutions to address challenges that team members are facing.

6.  Understand what motivates.  The short answer may be money – given fair compensation, that probably isn’t the answer.  Take the time to understand what motivates the individual – what is important to them.  Some motivating factors are telecommuting days, flex hours, achievement, extra responsibility, praise or a sense of camaraderie.  Ask if you can’t figure it out.  What motivates you may not motivate others.  Don’t make assumptions.

What else makes an AWESOME boss?  Think of the best boss you have ever had – what did they do to deserve your praise?  Leave your comments below.

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