Sadly, bad bosses are found in many organisations. You may know one. Or you may be one!

Being a boss or supervisor that people don’t respect, get along with or trust, has some serious implications.

The consequences include:

1. Staff will stop communicating with you.
2. Staff won’t feel empowered.
3. Staff will avoid you.
4. Staff will not be motivated which will frustrate you.
5. Staff are more likely to leave, costing your organisation thousands of dollars.

According to research by Gallup, having a boss you don’t like, or doesn’t manage well is a leading factor as to why so many people are actively disengaged at work. In fact almost 70% of employees in the USA are disengaged because they have a bad manager.

Alarmingly, Gallups’ report states that actively disengaged employees aren’t just unhappy at work; they’re busy acting out their unhappiness. Every day, these workers sabotage what their engaged colleagues accomplish.

So what are the qualities of a “good” boss? There has been lots of research on the topic (including my own!). Here are some traits of bosses that have highly engaged and productive teams.

• They respect and appreciate their employees
• They show trust and support to them, they don’t micromanage
• They are consistently ethical and fair
• They find ways to connect with employees and know that each person has different needs and expectations
• They let staff voice their concerns and frustration and are not afraid of feedback
• They ask their staff what motivates them and implement strategies to keep them motivated
• They instil a deep sense of accomplishment in individuals and teams
• They realise they can only do so much, so they delegate
• They accept responsibility, not just credit
• They are self-aware and never stop trying to become a better leader

Interestingly Gallup’s research has found that managers who focus on their employees’ strengths can practically eliminate active disengagement and double the average of number of workers who are engaged.

I expect you have had some good bosses or supervisors haven’t you? What leadership qualities or attributes have most impressed you?

Have the best week!

[note title=’Free Practice Guides’] More Practice Guides can be downloaded for free here.
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