Take a moment to think about the best boss you have ever had. What made them the best? Was it because they inspired you to achieve more or held you accountable to your goals? Were they invested in your success as an individual or just in the success of the team? Taking a moment to think about what qualities and characteristics made this person the best is a great exercise because it gives us insight into the kind of bosses and leaders that we would like to be.
The best boss I ever had had several amazing characteristics that we could all benefit from:
- She encouraged me to be a lifelong learner and celebrated my curiosity
- She helped me set professional goals and held me accountable to them
- She didn’t shy away from difficult conversations with me.
- She didn’t put her ego above her team
- She knew how I preferred to be recognized for a job well done and acted accordingly
- She knew me as a person despite the fact that she had quite a few other direct reports
There were many other great characteristic’s this individual held, but everyone who had the pleasure of working with/for her was better for it.
I want to be that kind of leader. I strive to incorporate the characteristics that I appreciated into my own leadership. I’m not perfect – and neither was she – but I do consistently strive to be better.
How can you incorporate the characteristics of the best boss you’ve ever had into your daily interactions with your team?
