A 2001 Gallup poll says the #1 reason people leave their jobs is bad bosses. Are you one of them?
Leadership Test
Test your leadership style by answering these questions as honestly as possible:
- Have you ever criticized an employee in public?
- Do you ever take credit for employees' work?
- Do you subconsciously reward your favorite employees, or punish your least favorites?
- Are you hesitant to relinquish projects to your employees?
- Do you constantly check their work for quality?
- Do you expect your employees to do what they're asked, without question?
- Are your employees afraid of you?
- Do you communicate with your staff through e-mail?
- Do you avoid knowing your employees personally?
- Are you hesitant to ask for feedback from your staff?
If you've answered "yes" to any of these questions, we hate to break it to you, but you might be a bad boss.
Become a Better Leader
As Theodore Roosevelt once said of leadership, "The leader works in the open, and the boss in covert. The leader leads, and the boss drives." Your leadership style may need some work, but leadership isn't born, it's made. Today, many management programs and professional associations offer leadership courses that help managers become good leaders, and good coaches.
Leadership courses help managers to develop good communication skills, so that they can effectively communicate their vision, mission, and expectations to their staffs. Programs like these instruct participants in improving listening skills, resolving disciplinary and performance issues, accepting criticism, public speaking, acknowledging and rewarding good work, delegating tasks, and building successful teams.
So step out of the driver's seat and start leading. Your team just might follow you.
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