Post by Allison O’Neill, contributing Women On Business writer
Being ‘the boss’ is a role which requires wide and varied skills. Our workplaces are changing very rapidly which means so too are your roles and responsibilities. Today’s boss needs to be humble, very honest and prepared to give staff lots of freedom.
If you can agree with the statements below you have what it takes to be an amazing boss in 2009.
- I actively seek things to congratulate my workers on.
- I am nothing without my great team.
- I constantly bend over backwards to ensure my staff are happy.
- I am here to serve my workers (it is not the other way around!).
- We have fun, fresh workplace policies that reward and inspire workers.
- I would rather unblock a toilet myself than get a staff member to do it.
- I embrace the changes and modernization of the workplace – it doesn’t scare me.
- There are no unnecessary strict policies here – I am open to flexibility.
- I keep no secrets from my team.
- I am very aware of the personal sacrifices my team make for work.
- I constantly ponder my leadership skills and learnings.
- I am always growing my self awareness – I am my harshest critic.
- I am not scared of ‘the yuck’ in our workplace – I address it.
- I sweat even ‘the small stuff’ to ensure our workplace is bliss for workers.
- Our values are modern, human and fun (i.e. “don’t be a jerk”).
- I insist on a ‘no bitching’ policy – everything should be in the open.
- I insist staff tell me if they ever think I’m being an arsehole.
- I am kind and courteous even while under huge stress.
- I have a no bullshit policy – truth and delivery on everything.
If you can’t honestly agree with the above statements, its time to modernize your management philosophies. Jump start your mind by reading new style management books such as “Seven Secrets of Inspired Leaders” By Phil Dourado & Phil Blackburn or “Why Work Sucks and How to Fix It” by Cali Ressler and Jody Thompson.
Susan Gunelius
Susan Gunelius is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Women on Business. She is a 30-year veteran of the marketing field and has authored a dozen books about marketing, branding, and social media, including the highly popular Ultimate Guide to Email Marketing, 30-Minute Social Media Marketing, Content Marketing for Dummies, Blogging All-in-One for Dummies and Kick-ass Copywriting in 10 Easy Steps. Susan’s marketing-related content can be found on Entrepreneur.com, Forbes.com, MSNBC.com, BusinessWeek.com, and more. Susan is President & CEO of KeySplash Creative, Inc., a marketing communications company. She has worked in corporate marketing roles and through client relationships with AT&T, HSBC, Citibank, Intuit, The New York Times, Cox Communications, and many more large and small companies around the world. Susan also speaks about marketing, branding and social media at events around the world and is frequently interviewed by television, online, radio, and print media organizations about these topics. She holds an MBA in Management and Strategy and a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and is a Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC).
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