The qualities of a good boss

By Zhu Shuwen(朱淑雯)

A good boss is very important to a successful company. Being a good boss is about calmly leading and showing by example. However, being a good boss is not an easy job. It you do not want your employees to constantly gossip behind your back or complain about you, you should cultivate the qualities of a good boss. In my eyes, responsibility, trust and listening to employees’ views are the three most essential qualities of being a good boss.

Firstly, you should delegate responsibility and then trust your staff. Once you have trained your people to deal with a task, allow him or her to handle it without interference. As we all know, different people have different methods and approaches to solve a problem or a task. We had better let it be and not to interrupt them even if their approaches differ from yours. Maybe others’ ways are as efficient as the way you would do. Give an honest and straight evaluation to the method before you force your own way on anyone. Often correct your staff not to underestimate their ability and give your trust and appreciation to them.

Secondly, you should believe your staff and let them make decisions. If you have done a good job, of training your people to be your proxies, then you must believe they are doing their best to act in your company’s best profit. Even if they make a wrong decision, or deal with a situation in a way you would not do, don’t blame them. Instead, treat it as another training opportunity. Hear out the reasons for their action. Most of the time, there is a reason for what they have decided to do.

Last but not least, it is also very important for a good boss to learn to be an effective listener. You should know that your employees deserve to be heard when they have concern. Allow them to finish talking before you speak; do not assume that you know what they are going to tell you before they finish talking; do not form objections in your mind while they are talking. Instead, try to be fully engaged while they are talking without making it about your rebuttal. Acknowledge their points, which do not mean that you agree, but do mean that you understand their concerns. You may not need to take any action, but hearing them out is important to their sense of empowerment and significance.

In a word, a good boss is required by these three qualities, which are responsibility, trust, and listening to employees’ views. A key to be a good boss is based on good relationship with employees, so these are the most basic qualities required of a good boss.