Don’t be a D*ck – a guide to being an ‘OK’ Boss!

As a person who has served multiple bosses throughout their career, I get it; being the boss is not something you can genuinely prepare for. It’s never easy to lead, inspire, and get results when you’re just starting out your business and making new hires.

But you know what is easy? To be a respectable boss! Shocking, I know. You can avoid being that boss who’s subordinates become livelier when you are not around. How? It just takes a little self-awareness, communication skills and a lot less micromanaging.

Here’s my simple guide on how to be an ‘ok’ boss!

Don’t be a d*ck

While pretty self explanatory and obvious, you’d be surprised at how many of my old bosses actually fail this spectacularly! They tend to talk people down, act like they’re the main character in the office, and worse, they would think they’re too important for having basic mannerisms.

Imagine, telling someone who is resigning due to personal reasons that they’re easily replaced and insignificant to the company. Having lived through said experience, I can tell you that being that kind of boss will never earn you respect.

Instead, consider being affirmative, supportive and proactive. A simple thank you goes a long way and the occasional pizza party for the team who managed to secure clients for recurring jobs will definitely not bankrupt the company.

It’s the small things that matter for us subordinates. We definitely don’t want to see you roll up in your new Ford Mustang and thanking us for a job well done and how THAT was the result of all our hard work. Seriously, how tone deaf can some people be? Hopefully not you fellow reader!

Give feedback that’s actually useful

Can you imagine, being a graphic designer waiting for feedback on a visual and all you received in return is, “it doesn’t look nice”. I once had the displeasure of relaying that kind of feedback to the graphic designer. Needless to say, its a good thing the tables were bolted down.

Time after time I have received feedback that adds absolutely no value to the issue at hand. Makes me wonder, why are bosses so terrible at giving constructive feedback? Here’s a simple tip, take ownership and responsibility. The subordinates work is just as much yours so review it as you would your own.

Simply put, “a good job” is alright, but how about, “I like these elements, however I feel like these other parts need…” See how much better that sounds. Be specific, be kind and if its going well celebrate it!

Respect. Our. Time

“I love meetings that take way too much time and made zero impact to the project’s growth!” Said no one ever. Calling for pointless meetings to disseminate information that can be shared via email is never a good look for a boss. It shows that you are not capable of managing project resources efficiently and do not respect the subordinates time.

Those precious minutes can be used to complete tasks which no one wants to bring forward the next day. It also helps if these meetings are not done weekly especially for big projects. Some updates do take time, and putting pressure to present updates weekly is not productive or helpful.

At the end of the day, being a good boss isn’t just about being the main character. It’s about how you show up for those that are below you. Some easy tips, treat people with respect, be honest, keep learning, and stay human. The rest tends to fall into place after.