4 Essential Tips to be a Good Boss

February 21, 2020 7 min read

Introduction

Boss, manager, team lead – all different names for the same role: the one that has the biggest impact on the day-to-day life of all employees. The importance of the immediate boss in a work environment cannot be understated. From velocity to load to work-life fit, a manager’s actions have more impact on an employee than any other individuals in the entire organization. This relationship could be the reason for a worker’s success or the reason for their short tenure at an organization.

In today’s world where organizations are competing the most they ever have had to for talent, the role of the manager is extremely vital. Effective managers can engage, motivate, and lead. However, poor managers can create a culture of distrust and loss of productivity – counter to the goals of an organization. Employing managers who have the skills and attributes that are most important to employees will be critical to attracting, retaining, and building talent in an organization in 2020.

Why should managers read this?
From a practical standpoint, managers could always use more data points in how to become more effective in today’s workplace. Who better than to provide these then the employees they manage? After all – employee perception of a boss’ abilities matter more than they ever have.

However, the harsh truth is that most managers don’t receive any formal training on how to successfully lead a team. Most of the time it is chocked up to “you either have it or you don’t”. We here at Weeve want to change that. This guide will give managers the tips, tricks, and data points on what employees truly value and how they can apply those values in their day-to-day life.

Key Management Behaviors that Employees Want to See

According to Dr. Jack Wiley’s research involving more than 100,000 survey participants across 26 countries, all major job titles, three generations, and across all major industries, there are 4 discrete traits of a manager that are the most sought after by employees.

The top 4 behaviors that employees value the most in managers really represent what individuals need to have in a safe and high-functioning work environment:

  1. Support – Employees want a leader who is present, actively listens to concerns, available to course correct on work, and creates a positive environment that is conducive to high contributions.
  2. Recognition – Employees want to feel that their contributions are positively affecting the team’s / company’s goals. Managers should not be stingy in giving out praise in any form.
  3. Respect – Managers need to always treat employees with respect. Employees need to be treated with a level of dignity and respect, regardless of tenure, experience, or performance.
  4. Clarity – Employees dislike ambiguity. Managers should provide help in understanding what is expected from employees.

Key Management Skills and Values

Apart from behaviors, managers have to be able to exhibit specific skills and espouse certain values in order to be the most effective, according to Dr. Jack Wiley’s research.

The Two Most Important Values A Manager Must Hold
Employees want managers who value equity; who practice fair play; who don’t play favorites. The other value employees need to see in managers is trustworthiness. Employees want managers who tell the truth.

The Most Important Skill Employees Want In A Manager
Employees value above all else a manager that has great problem-solving and decision-making abilities. Managers that have these skills foster a sense of pride and confidence in their reports, contributing directly to employee motivation, engagement, and organizational citizenship.