Truly great bosses
My blog post about toxic bosses around two weeks ago was very popular. This week I thought I’d flip the coin to a more positive topic and talk about my experiences working with really great bosses (or more to the point, leaders).
It is truly rewarding to work for a great boss. They make the good days great and on the days when things aren't going so well, provide a sense of calm, direction and purpose that makes it all bearable.
When reflecting on my experiences and the qualities of great bosses I’ve worked with, the first that came to mind is that their energy is infectious (in a good way, go away Covid!). They bring you along on an organisational journey (or explain how they are working towards it) and have a clear vision for the future. In this way they inspire and motivate many - employees, service users, board members, funders and others.
As well, I’ve found great bosses are not hierarchical. They see members of their team as equal contributors. As part of this they make it a priority get to know you and your strengths, and how the team can work together towards a shared vision and purpose.
They are great communicators. Whether it’s a team meeting or public event, they speak clearly and with confidence, are respectful, and have empathy. They are also good listeners, and use this to gain insight, hear different perspectives and new ideas. They also encourage open communication and sharing from team members.
They are authentic. For me this means that they are genuine, have courage and are trustworthy. They are not afraid of difficult conversations, even if this opens them up to criticism. In this way they set the standard for the team.
Finally, they have a good sense of humour because let's face it, we all need that from time-to-time. I have read that people are more open with their humour in workplaces that encourage people to be themselves. These workplaces are usually less hierarchical, see paragraph above!
For me all these qualities made them a truly great boss rather than ‘just my boss’.
And finally great bosses contribute to your self-care because they encourage you to share your strengths and talents, provide a connection that is supportive and trustworthy, and can help you to live your purpose.
I would like to shout out to a handful of my particularly inspiring bosses over the years, Air Vice Marshall Kym Osley AM CSC (retired), Hon. Sussan Ley MP, Linda W, Jono Nicholas and Ashley de Silva. I have learned so much from you all, you have great integrity and have achieved great things. Thank you.