So, choose your boss wisely
Most job-seekers aren’t just looking for the right work — they’re looking for the right boss, too. To a large extent a boss will control your assignments and your work environment, so it makes sense to try to learn more about him/her long before you’re hired.
Having worked with few bosses through my career I have had a few very passionate and remarkable bosses. The difference being good bosses look good on paper, but, great bosses let their actions show their value. There will be charisma, which drives the employees to revolve around them. It is not the things that you see them do that create the difference, but, what you don’t see them do.
So why choose a boss not a job?
If you pick the right boss, you are just not another employee doing the rounds. Rather he/she is genuinely interested in what path you take. You’ll be provided and involved in amazing opportunities at work that’ll help your career and development. You’ll be singled out to go for those conferences abroad and attend the big meetings. I’ve seen this play out many times with people around me.
With the right boss, your relationship transcends the period of your employment with him/her. Rather, you will succeed in building a relationship that you’re able to leverage and utilise.
I’m sure you know to research the firm you’re applying to. But did you think to research your potential bosses? Is their career path akin to something you’ll like to consider?
So what are the characteristics a remarkable boss has?
- Calling shots is not their dream: In fact, remarkable bosses don’t care about control. They help others to achieve their objectives.
- Facilitates learning: “It’s easy for a boss to debrief an employee and turn a teachable moment into a lesson learned. It’s a lot harder to let employees learn their own lessons, even though the lessons we learn on our own are the lessons we remember forever.
- Welcomes ideas from employees: Remarkable bosses don’t force you to do a task the way they want it done. They will give you the autonomy, and let the employee go in with their eyes wide open. They see the potential within employees and know the ways in which they can bring out the best in employees.
- They don’t seek credit: There have been many instances in my first job, where the overseas managers were upset with certain project deliverables, but, our boss supported our team. He knew that to do otherwise undermine the employee’s credibility and possibly authority. And he never seeks credit for standing up for you, and doesn’t say anything, because he knows it is the right thing to do.
- They believe in their employees: When an employee makes a mistake, it is easy for a boss to avoid giving similar work to that employee. But one mistake, or one weakness, is just one part of the whole person. Remarkable bosses on the other hand help the employee get over their weaknesses and help them get through the tough times. They forgive, they forget, but, they maintain the belief on their employees.
- Great bosses act as inspiration for their employees to achieve company goals, at the same time they help the employees achieve their personal goals.