Bosses 1

[bandraoi]

Finding the right boss is so difficult and yet it seems to me to be a fairly random process of assignment.
Often you won't meet the person you will actually be working for till after you've started a job. Sometimes, he or you will be moved slightly so that who your boss is changes.
Being able to work well with your boss makes such a difference to your career long term and short term.

I've had some terrible bosses, I've had some mediocre bosses, I've had some great bosses.

What goes into making a good boss?
How do you go about finding a boss you can work with and who can work with you?

 

[PSE]

I do not believe that there is a hard set of criteria for determining what makes a good boss. In retrospect for me (9 different bosses/supervisors & 3 different employers), my definition of a good boss has evolved as my career developed. For example, early in my career, having a boss that was capable of doing some mentoring would have ranked highly. At this stage, all I pretty much need is to be given the goals and timeframe and then have the boss remove the large obstacles that come up from time to time on any project.

Personality fit weighs a little but trust is always in the equation for me regarding on how I relate with my boss. For that I go with my "gut" feeling about the individual and/or his superiors for an otherwise good boss can be severely compromised by his own superior and on up. Ideally, the whole chain needs to work.

Regards,

 

[waskillywabbit]

The quality of your boss boils down to the quality of who they are as a person. Doesn't mean you have to be buddies or have complimenting personalities, but someone who reciprocates respect, loyalty and isn't afraid to get their hands dirty if need be. I've been both a boss and an employee and the key is to remember what it was like when you were the employee and what you liked/disliked about your boss.

I agree w/ PSE, the chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and that link can be the boss.

Brian

 

[corus]

'Finding a good boss' is a good question but sadly we're not allowed to choose them. I'd much prefer a system where a member of the staff was on the inteview panel so that both sides were involved in the process of selection rather than having some idiot selected by the upper echelons being imposed on those who have to work with the clown. Alas, it will never be.

corus

 

[ajack1]

As well as all the “measurable” qualities, good communication skills, leadership skills, ability and qualifications to do the job, that sort of thing I think personality is important.

I know it shouldn’t make any difference if you like the person or not but it does IMO and that is a problem, what one person sees as disciplined and orderly another sees as dominating and picky, or what someone sees as relaxed and jovial others would see as unprofessional.

We are all individuals and as such respond differently to the same thing, maybe being able to see that and overcome it is what makes a good boss.

 

[SomptingGuy]

Of the bosses I've had, the ones I thought were good ones all shared the same attribute: The knowledge (or perhaps feeling?) that they could do my job at least as well as I could, but had more important things to do.

 

[bandraoi]

I've had several bosses in the last year, that's what's started me thinking about it really.

One guy was lousy, but to a certain extent he was scuppered by his own boss who was too busy doing a Masters to give time to work. As the new guy in the office my boss wasn't getting projects especially since the section as a whole was quiet.

Another boss I had was a bastard, hideous personality, essentially a bully BUT I could work with him, he'd back you up to the hilt if you were in a dispute with someone else, he'd tell you what to do and that was that. He could harangue you for no good reason, and you'd want to make damn sure you had a specific query when asking him a question, yet I could work for him.

There was another guy who was nice enough but I couldn't work with him at all. Whenever he gave me something to do I could never understand what he was asking for, whenever he tried to explain something my eyes would glaze over.

 

[Maui]

I would suggest that you re-state the opening sentence in your post to read, " Finding the right boss for you..." We all have different personalities, skill sets, levels of competence, and ability. A boss that may be very well suited to manage a group of seasoned engineers may not have the patience to mentor a new engineer, for example. I agree that the relationship you build with your direct supervisor can have a big impact on your work life. If you and your boss don't get along, it can make your work life miserable. If you do get along, as I do with my boss, it makes things much easier although it does not guarantee that your job will be enjoyable.

PSE made some good points. What you need in a supervisor will change as your career progresses. At this point all I need is my supervisor to tell me what he needs done, and I do it. At times I will anticipate what he needs, and will have the work completed before he even approaches me about it. I don't seem to have any significant problems in dealing with my direct supervisor. His boss is another story entirely...


Maui

 

[astructurale]

I've been to a few seminars on this topic, after having a good and then a bad bosses.

I think that the most important traits for being a good boss is INTEGRITY. If your boss does not have this trait, respect is lost. And it is less likely that you will give your best for someone who you cannot trust or respect. There are many other great traits to have, but I believe these to be key. Looking back I can say that both of the good bosses I worked for had that trait, and I have friends with them since leaving the company to this day becuase of it.

 

[epoisses]

I guess it should be a reasonable request (asked well ahead) to be able to meet your potential future boss during the interview. Every interviewer would recognise the fact that you understood what matters.

Having said that, it's hard to tell in 10 minutes whether your boss will happily delegate things or will always want to change every detail you produce, will or will not cover your @$$ when you messed up, will happily sign expense statements or will discuss every minibar item, will be much more intelligent than you or much less.....

Looks like finding a good boss is as complicated as finding a good employee.

 

[epoisses]

btw astructurale I fully agree with that

 

[astructurale]

Please excuse the poor grammar on my last post ...I was just typing away and forgot to proof read it!

 

[bandraoi]

Other aspects to being a good boss are giving you enough work, giving you enough time to get it done, providing some feedback when you're doing something that's new or different.

 

[MadMango]

A good boss will also know what skills each team member has, and will assign the right type of work to the right person, if possible.

As corus said, we don't have the luxury of selecting our bosses, and sometimes they don't even get to select us. But all bosses, good or bad, offer a chance to learn something about people in general and corporate politics. I think I have learned more from "bad bosses" in my past.

[green]"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."[/green]
Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943.
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[casseopeia]

A good boss has a well-engineered and clear plan.
A good boss effectively and clearly communicates that plan.
A good boss deviates from the plan only when needed and communicates those changes early.
A good boss mentors his/her employees and assists them when needed.
A good boss offers praise or reward when it is deserved as he/she offers constructive critique when required.
A good boss knows how to delegate responsibility as well as how to also give over control.
A good boss rejoices seeing his/her employees elevated, even if it is beyond his or her level.
A good boss consults his/her own boss, even if it is a former employee, for advice or assistance when needed and genuinely thanks that person for their input.

"If you are going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance!"

 

[MESC1]

It's all about trust.

I finally learned what submission was from my boss, until then, I never understood how a woman could submit to her husband without loosing herself.
If you can trust your spouse to do their part, you don't have to control everything. The same with your boss, when you can trust your boss to take care of you, you can submit to his guidance.

Thanks
SC

 

[HgTX]

If they're not requiring anything unreasonable, no "submission" should be needed.

Hg

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[MESC1]

Ok, so you don't like my vocabularly. I'm sorry, I think my co-workers keep atomica in business translating my conversations. ;-)
Submission simply means to follow the will of another, or do what you're told.
I don't blindly do what my boss tells me to, but because I trust him not to ask anything unreasonable I can generally do as I'm told. On the other hand, I've had a few bosses that constantly ask for stupid things. I've told them as much, too! -Suprisingly, I've been with the same company for a decade, and they don't want to see me go.

Thanks
SC

 

[HgTX]

That's not submission, that's trust in a teammate. Submission is "because I told you". Trust in a teammate (even one who is your boss) means understanding why they ask what they ask and doing it because it's the right thing to do--and discussing the matter with them if you don't understand or agree with the reasoning.

By bringing up submission in marriage, you are treading on some very delicate turf here.

Hg

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[privateer]

I think a good boss is a good leader.

They are not always the same.

I've had good, and bad throughout my working life. I've had to put my life (literally) in the hands of bosses that simply could not be respected. On the other hand, I've had to put my life in the hands of people who I could respect and trust, and during those times I've never felt more alive, more empowered by my strengths or my team's strength, invincible - I could accomplish anything....

I think someone who is more interested in leading, mentoring, nuturing, makes the best boss. Someone who shows how to do the right thing. Someone who disciplines only in an effort to educate, and provide growth.

There's an saying I've heard (and I don't know who said it because I'd like to give credit): "Bosses make sure things are done right, leaders show how to do the right things."

I believe this.