Tips for Being an Effective Boss

There's a fine line between being the boss that everyone loves and being the one that everyone hates. It's not always easy to balance work and interoffice relationships. Some managers are too friendly to run an efficient office. Others are so job oriented that they completely alienate their employees.

The problem lies in finding the balance. It's fine for a boss to be on good terms with their employees, but it's also important that the job get done. An effective manager finds the middle ground. When they do, productivity increases and the workplace becomes an overall good environment.

Having been on both sides of the work line, I've found that there are mistakes waiting at every turn for a supervisor to make. I've also found that there are some things that those under your watch will respond to better than others. Respect is gained (or maintained) and the work continues to get done. Here some of the top things I've learned on how to be an effective boss.

1.Put the job first - If you're getting a weekly paycheck, your priority needs to lie with the company signing that check. In a perfect world, your employees would understand that. Unfortunately many don't. Make your stance clear from the beginning. You are going to put the company's best interests first and then deal with everything else. This doesn't mean ignore your workers when an emergency arrives. It means that if something big should arise, such as a legal matter or a case where the work isn't being done as it should, everyone knows where your stand will be.

2.Don't play favorites - There's nothing that employees pick up quicker than who the boss is playing favorites with. It's natural for someone in a supervisory position to find favor with certain people, many times because of friendship. But when you're in charge, someone's bound to complain when you show preferential treatment for any reason. Base every choice you make on work ethic, not your relationship with the workers. If you've become close friends with a slacker, you're going to need to put the friendship aside to push them to do their work. Likewise, if you're not too fond of one of the harder workers in the place, you still need to make sure they get praised for the good things they do.

3.Be honest - While you might want to give everyone under your watch a raise or a bonus when they ask, there's a good chance that your company either can't or won't do it. Even if your workers are pushing issues like raises, days off, or a better cubicle, maintain honesty. If you're not sure you can do anything for them, tell them that. Don't make promises you can't keep. There's nothing worse for an employee than to be told they will "probably" bet the promotion they've been wanting when you haven't even talked it over with YOUR boss. You don't have to tell people what they want to hear just to come out as the good guy. Be up front, tell them the truth, and you'll be respected for it in the end.

4.Make yourself approachable - Have you ever tried talking to a boss who spent most of their time in a bad mood, barking out orders, or acting completely put out the minute you approached them? As a manager, making yourself approachable to your employees is a good way to earn respect and keep things running smoothly. Don't make your workers feel like a bother. Greet them regularly so as not to put yourself on a higher social level than they are. If you truly don't have time to talk to them, politely set up a time when they can come to your office, or offer to call or email them when you have a free moment. Alienating your workers will make for a tense environment and the chance that no one will want to let you know if something is truly wrong.

5.Set an example - The boss is the standard by which employees set their own work habits. Make sure those habits are positive. Follow the company rules. Put a respectable amount of your own time and energy into projects. Treat others with respect. Limit chat, email, and phone time. If something big needs to be done, be willing to show that you can go the extra mile to do it. When you show a strong work ethic, your employees are likely to respect you and follow your lead. When you spend the day with your feet on the desk talking in your cell phone all day, you're going to wonder why your company isn't as productive as it could be.

6.Give the respect you want to receive - You might be the boss, but the people working under you are there for the same reasons you are...to make a living, support a family, and pay the bills. They deserve as much respect as you do. Don't let your ego send you on a power trip. Talking down to your workers will only lower their confidence and decrease their desire to do a good job. When you show that you value them as employees, you'll find that productivity and the overall work atmosphere will be better.

7.Avoid "blaming" confrontations - By the time you reach management, you should have a good idea of the difference between good and bad interpersonal skills. Stay away from "blaming" language. While you can't avoid confrontations completely, you can avoid putting an employee on the spot or embarrassing them. Keep your confrontations calm. Focus on "what didn't get done on the project" rather than "what they didn't do or did wrong." Keeping it objective will help them maintain their confidence and be open to improving their work skills. Constructive criticism can be great for improving office productivity. Be open and detailed when helping workers understand where they can improve.

8.Be willing to pick up the slack - Many people believe that once you're in a higher position, you have the easy life, with days off when you want them and long vacations as well as higher pay. The truth? Now that you're in charge of a group of workers, you're also in charge of their responsibilities. This means that the work they DON'T do falls on your shoulders. When you have a good crew, this won't be a problem. But as a manager, you'll need to understand that emergencies can and do happen. When one of your employees is sick or in need of an absence to take care of a family emergency, you will be the one who has to step in. When you're willing to work at the level of your employees to keep things running smoothly, you'll keep others from being bogged down by stress and earn a great deal of respect at the same time.

Overall, remember that the golden rule of life pertains to the work world as well. Treat others as you want to be treated. While you may hold a position of power over others, don't forget that you were lower on the totem pole at one time. Taking steps to be a good boss will go a long way to ensuring a happy work force and a highly productive company.