By Ingrid Vaughan

Think back to bosses you have had over the years. What made one boss terrible and the other terrific?

Did it have to do with their personality and how it did or didn’t gel with yours? Was it their leadership style and whether it meshed with your values? Was it their training or experience? Or did your boss’s impact have more to do with where you were in your own growth and development?

Relationships are fluid and subjective, and chances are, that boss you thought was terrible, someone else in the company found terrific. This begs the question of whether it is possible to have a set of standards that makes you a great boss to all your employees. While there will always be some people you just don’t connect with, there are skills and strategies that will make you a better boss as you lead your team. It may not be possible to be considered terrific by everyone who works for you, but these skills will definitely narrow the gap between those who do and those who don’t.

Terrific bosses are approachable and inclusive.
Do you inform your employees about what’s going on in the business so they get the big picture and can buy into your vision? Do you listen to their feedback, value it and use their ideas? Do people feel comfortable talking to you about their concerns, ideas, or goals? Are you a good listener – can you read between the lines? If you’ve done a good job of hiring great people, you need to trust their judgment and value their contribution to your business.

Terrific bosses have a big vision.
A terrific boss knows there’s more to life than 9 to 5, and appreciates that those who work for him or her have visions for their lives as well. A terrific boss also understands what motivates people, and that it’s not always money. Clearly demonstrating how each team member contributes to the business vision inspires and motivates employees. At the same time, understanding what your employees value and need, and being flexible in meeting their needs will empower them and increase their level of performance and productivity

Terrific bosses are growth-oriented.
A terrific boss never stops learning. He/she is constantly taking courses and attending workshops and seminars to increase their skills (both technical and management). A terrific boss encourages employees to continue learning as well, and supports professional and personal development opportunities. That means putting your money where your mouth is. You can’t expect your staff to value continued learning if you don’t do it yourself, and if you don’t support their efforts to do it. This may mean giving them a designated number of paid days per year for professional development, or contributing a certain dollar amount per person to their development activities.

Terrific bosses understand coaching as part of their leadership strategy.
Think of a professional sports team. The role of the general manager is quite different from that of the coach. While the manager’s job is to think of the externals – of what’s best for the team on a global level – the coach’s job is to try to get the best performance from each member of the team. That requires coming alongside them, knowing their strengths and weaknesses and working to maximize one and minimize the other. It means understanding what inspires them and working to keep them inspired every time they step out on the playing field. It also means knowing how to make each player recognize their role and value on the team, and facilitating the synergy of that team. As a small business owner, you must be both. Your job certainly is to manage your business for the big picture, but you must also have the mentality of a coach to get the greatest performance from your team.

Terrific bosses have a high degree of employee awareness.
Getting to know your employees beyond the work environment can make your employees feel valued. Remember that Suzie’s mother is having cataract surgery next week and make sure to ask her how it went. Recognize Tom for achieving a personal goal of running in the marathon on the weekend. Acknowledge that Cindy finished her diploma with honours. Ask James how his daughter is enjoying her new job overseas. They seem like little things, but your interest in the lives of your employees lets them know you care about them as people, and this is perhaps the greatest motivator of all.

Terrific bosses recognize that strong leadership is a process.
Some people are born to be great leaders. It’s instinctive and as natural as breathing. But for most of us, becoming a great leader is a learning, growing process. That means you have to practice your leadership skills and learn continually what it means to be a good leader. Read books written by great leaders, take advantage of management courses and seminars and observe others whose leadership skills you admire. Being a terrific boss takes effort, but when your team admires and respects you, they’ll be willing to give you 110 per cent every day, and you’ll be a winning company in your industry.

Ingrid lives and works in Victoria BC as a Human Resource Generalist. She is the author of I’m A Circle, You’re a Square, a book about increasing the effectiveness of workplace communication. In addition to her HR generalist skills, Ingrid has experience as a small business coach, employment counsellor, business writer and corporate trainer. She is currently the Human Resource Specialist for the BC Construction Association, Skilled Trades Employment Program.