How To Be A Boss Your Employees Look Up To

Being a boss isn't easy, we know.

Oh sure, you get to make important decisions, and you can wield power by telling other people what to do, but there is more to leadership than that, of course.

You need to manage your employees, for starters, and while many will do what you want them to do, there will always be those who fall behind or ignore you. Those important decisions we mentioned can sometimes be hard to make too, especially where your employees are concerned. They might disrespect or leave you if they feel wronged in any way by your decision making.

It's tough, which you know yourself if you have a position of authority. Still, you can make life easier for yourself by being a boss your employees look up to. This can be easier said than done, of course, but try to focus on the following.

#1: Don't treat your employees unfairly

Think of the employers you have worked for, and the ways in which they treated you or other staff members poorly. They might have forced you into working overtime, for example. They might have imposed strict deadlines upon you too, and then berated you for not meeting them, even though they were to blame due to the heavy workloads and tight time constraints they placed upon you. 

DON'T BE THAT BOSS!!

Instead, find ways to ensure productivity in the day, as this way, your employees won't have to work overtime. They will be better able to meet their deadlines too, as they will be less likely to make mistakes through stress and fatigue. 

So, think about the people in your workplace, and give them the tools they need to work productively. They should then get to go home at a decent hour instead of working late into the evening. And consider your fleet staff too. If they are out on the roads longer than they should be, they are going to suffer from tiredness too. Monitor the digital tachograph of every driver in your fleet, and then plan routes better, so your drivers don't work longer than they need to. 

When your employees are productive, you will be happy knowing that work is being done. And your employees will be happy too, because they will benefit from the leadership decisions you have made to help them complete their work to your satisfaction.

#2: Provide feedback and mentoring

Do you get annoyed when your employees make constant mistakes? Do you lose your temper with them if they don't succeed in the tasks you have given them?  What happens then? You probably give yourself a headache, and consequently give them a headache because of the stress you have imposed upon them.

So, when your employees do something wrong, don't rush in with annoyed comments and threats of punishment. Instead, give them feedback. Let them know where they are going wrong, and with a mentoring approach, show them how to improve on what they are doing. This positive approach is going to bring better results, as your employees will be less likely to make similar respects due to fear-induced stress or resentment for you.

And remember positive feedback. When your employees do something well, let them know how pleased you are with them. This will both improve their morale and their productivity, as the happier they are, the better they will work. So, take time out of your day to recognise your employees' achievements. Offer words of thanks, and reward them with the occasional office lunch, cash bonus, or some other such token of recognition. You will earn their respect if you do. 

#3: Trust your employees

Have you ever been micro-managed by an interfering boss? You will understand how annoying this can be if so, especially if they have corrected your perfectly good work for little to no reason, or if they have asked you to use methods you don't agree with. If only your boss had trusted you more, you might have had greater morale, and you might have completed your work on time too.

And so it is with your employees. Do they really need you sticking your oar in every five minutes? If they are competent and well-trained in their positions, they don't need your interference. You don't need it either, as you have your own workload to contend with. You see, the more time you spend breathing over your employees, the more they will start to disrespect you, not only for your interference, but because you aren't being productive yourself. So, quit it and leave them to their workloads if you aren't needed. 

Then, when it comes to the decisions you have to make in your business, remember that you don't have to make them alone. If your employees have skills and areas of knowledge that can be tapped into, then do so. They might have ideas on how to move your business forward or have solutions to the problems your business is facing, so call on them 1:1 or in a group meeting, and rally their support. You will gain their respect if you do, as this is because of the sense of value and pride that they will feel after being recognised for their talents.. 

#4: Care for your employees

By following the other steps in this article, you are already showing care to an extent. And this is important because your employees aren't mindless worker drones. They aren't there for you to gain pleasure from by having the opportunity to boss them around. Your employees are people with feelings, emotions, needs, and desires, and as the employer, you need to remember this.

So, aside from what has already been mentioned, do more to care for your employees. Take the time to ask them how they are, and show concern if they appear down or despondent. Encourage them to take breaks when they need to, and maintain a clean environment to ensure their good health.

And show interest in them as people, by asking about their hobbies, families, and the other facets that make up who they are.

When you start to show care, you will improve employee morale, and they will start to look up to you and respect you. 

And finally…

Be the boss that your employees look up to. Consider our suggestions, and focus on them if you haven't yet followed them in your workplace. And think of the bosses you have had in your life. What did you love or loathe about them? Shape yourself to be a better boss by thinking of your experiences. Your employees will love you more if you do!