If you have had more than two jobs in your career, you have probably had several bosses to go along with those positions. Most manager personalities can be broken down into three categories. I like to call them my “A-Team” because they all begin with a letter A.
The first type of boss is the awesome boss. When you think about your favorite boss of all time, what characteristics does that person possesses? Some common traits include “trustworthy,” “has my back,” “challenges me,” “approachable,” and “fun to be around.”
The second kind of boss is the average boss. For this boss, you probably worked hard enough so that you didn’t get fired, and you were probably paid precisely enough so you did not quit.
The third type of boss is, of course, the awful boss. Words that describe this person often include “plays favorites,” “unfair,” “backstabber,” “takes all the credit,” – you get the picture.
Here are three ways you can create a culture of appreciation in your workplace.
Build trust. Trust is the foundation on which you build your culture. If there is no trust, nothing else matters. Your company culture is not going to change overnight. Stop chasing “BSOs” – Bright Shiny Objects. Instead, focus on one idea at a time, and make a commitment to its full implementation.
Invest in training. Help your employees become better tomorrow than they are today by investing in their personal and professional development. Some managers feel that spending money on training is a waste of resources. Those managers may say, “Why should we spend money to train our employees, they’re just going to take what they learn and leave anyway.” On the other hand, what if you don’t train them, and they stay? What you’ll find is that when you invest in your employees, they will work harder for you.
Acknowledge positive action. Catch your employees in the act of doing things well. In other words, find ways to acknowledge, appreciate, and applaud the efforts of your team members. Mother Teresa once said, “We are more starved for appreciation than we are for bread.” Showing appreciation is just as valid at work as it is at home. Make a point to thank an employee today.
Use these techniques to become the “awesome” boss that you would have liked to report to in your career.
