A few weeks ago, I wrote about the “Worst Boss Ever List”. This week I want to look at the flip side.  What it takes to be on the “Best Boss Ever” list.

The good news is the men and women that work for you don’t expect someone with a super-hero cape or gold plated resume.  If you follow these five steps, you will be well on your way to success.

5 Steps to the Best Boss Ever List

• Know the work you are engaged in.

It seems so basic. You would think that someone in leadership would be very knowledgeable of the work needing done.  However, many could tell stories of the boss that didn’t have the first clue about the work.  They were hired for other reasons, great interviewer, academic accomplishments, or some other reason that doesn’t relate to the work being done.

What a bad situation.

Most want a boss that is competent or has a plan to learn the work quickly.  This is the foundation that will propel you to the “Best Boss Ever” list.

• Respect the People that do the work.

Those on the “Best Boss Ever” list know the value of the work and the men and women doing the work.  They value people as crafters of value, not just automatons. A culture of respect creates an environment were good people can thrive.

It’s no wonder that respect leads to step three.

• Empower your people doing the work.

I have written on this several weeks ago.  Good people don’t like to be micro-managed.  Bosses that lack competency don’t trust, so they try to micro-manage those that work for them.

Great bosses empower people that work for them. They know the work and have respect for those doing the work.

They free up time and energy in the organization to empower their people, not choking off creativity with excessive rules on how to get a job done.

• Develop people for the future.

This may be the greatest value that “Best Bosses” bring to an organization.  They develop those from within. They help expand the skills and knowledge of others so they can have an expanded impact.

To develop leaders of the future, they must know the work. Respect the men and women doing the work, and empower them in their position.  All of this needs to be done in the context of having vision and leading with a focus on results.

• Provide vision and lead with purpose.

To make it on the “Best Boss List”, you have to have a vision for the organization and be able to communicate that vision in a compelling way.  Then make the compelling achievable.

To qualify for the “Best Boss List”,  you will need to lead your team in the right direction and achieve the results that are expected.  If you fail at either one of these, vision or results, you will negate the first four steps.

Room on the “Best Boss List”

It is my goal to be on this list for those that work for me.  Will you join me in this quest within your organization to have vision, be results oriented, develop future leaders, empower those that work for you, and develop a culture of respect?

Question of the Week:  What one item would you add to your list?

Quote of the Week: “Leaders must be close enough to relate to others, but far enough ahead to motivate them.” – John C. Maxwell