How to Be a Better Boss!

Why would you want to be a better boss? Six simple steps to becoming a better boss will benefit you and your company because happy employees are productive employees. Whether you are the owner or just a supervisor, you will want your employees productive and happy. Why would you want to be a better boss? Six simple steps to becoming a better boss will benefit you and your company because happy employees are productive employees. Whether you are the owner or just a supervisor, you will want your employees productive and happy. I usually think about this every time I go to the United States Post Office. Time is money and that is always the bottom line when it comes to running a business or supervising a crew.

Be a better boss number one: Set a good example!

As the boss or a supervisor, your employees will follow your lead. If you want them there on time - set the example. If you want your employees to work - then work! My employees were not there to lead me, I was there to lead them and they looked to me for an example to follow. If you want to know what kind of a boss you are, look at the people following you!

Be a better boss number two: Communicate!

An employee can only be productive when he knows what is expected of him; must have the tools to accomplish the task at hand; must have the time to accomplish the task and understand if there are any deadlines. Communicate with your employees. Do not leave them to guess what you want and never leave them to set their own timeline of completion! Check with them occasionally to see if they need help or assistance.

Be a better boss number three: Pay attention to your employees!

It does not take much to appreciate every employee you have. Pay attention to them. There are reasons people work, money of course, but there are other things that are appreciated. A nice compliment once in a while will go a long way toward making a person feel respected and needed. Any time I could let the employees off early (especially on Friday afternoon) I would. They would work hard and diligent to finish a job just to be able to have a free afternoon. Small notices of a job well done will do more for moral that a "once a year plaque of appreciation". Year end bonuses are always better than a "Christmas party".

Be a better boss number four: Provide the best tools and equipment you can afford!

Anyone appreciates having the best equipment and tools to work with. Broken machinery means "down time" and remember.... time is money. Provide the very best equipment and tools you can afford and the employees will appreciate that

Be a better boss number five: Never ask someone to do something you are unwilling to do yourself!
(Exception being, you are not qualified.)

The very best example I can think of is when "over-time" is involved in meeting a deadline. Any time there was a crunch to meet a job, I worked as much or more than the employees did. I never expected them to work more that I and always there were words of appreciation for their efforts. Roll up your sleeves and work with them because everyone benefits. No one likes to work for a snob.

Be a better boss number six: Ask and be willing to help!

While watching over the flow of the business, if you see someone struggling, ask if there is anyway you can help them. Maybe they need additional information, better equipment or tools or just an extra hand. Offer your help to them. They will probably appreciate it and be relieved. Many of the young employees we had from time to time would become overwhelmed and just needed a little help and encouragement to get them back on track. Be ready and willing to assist.

Excellent reading and study material:

Chuck Swindol wrote a book, Hand Me Another Brick, a study on the book of Nehemiah from the Holy Bible. Nehemiah is God's leader and builder and this book gives us an excellent example of how to apply God's principles to today's life and be a good boss. It should be required reading for every boss or supervisor.

In my years of supervising people, I made loyal friends and loyal employees by following Nehemiah's example. God blessed me as He had blessed Nehemiah. I am grateful.