When you run your own business, you’re likely going to face the challenges of the workplace from a new perspective. From that of a boss. Make no mistake, with the enjoyment of a place of authority comes all the responsibility. You need to start thinking about not only how to boss people, but how to be the kind of boss that your team needs. Here, we’ll look at three of the greatest components of the boss that you can be.
Be a source of emulation
A boss that people respect and want to impress is someone that they’re going to follow. You will be the example of what it means to be at the top of your business. For that reason, you have to take your own actions all the more seriously. If you want your business to appear a professional outfit and your employees to follow suit, you need to appear the perfect business gentleman yourself. If you want them to be team players, you have to learn what it means to take personal accountability while spreading responsibility. If you pass the buck, watch your team do the same anytime a problem is encountered. The rules aren’t different for you because you’re the boss. You are the embodiment of the spirit of the law, regardless of what the letter of the law says.
Know your bounds
Whether you’re dealing with problem employees or trying to explore the potential of the best, there are a lot of chances to cross boundaries that get you in legal trouble. Favoritism, criticism, dismissal. These are all things that can be used against you if you’re not careful. Besides learning how to better operate within the boundaries, it’s a good idea to have them clearly set and codified in the business. A human resources consultant can help you put together the code that serves as the justification and guidelines for your judgment. Without that kind of proof, it’s ease for employees to argue that your emotions and prejudices inform your behavior. Naturally, this means it’s a good idea to keep in depth records of employee infractions, disciplinary matters and the like too to justify anything like dismissals. You might know you’re in the right, but sometimes you need to prove it, too.
Clear your mind of misconceptions
Staying in those bounds and being a better employer in general means you have to learn to shed your emotions from time to time. Being fair creates a workplace cohesion a lot better than letting favoritism get the best of you. Don’t listen to employee complaints about a coworker unless they’re breaking the law or workplace policy. Approach the problem, not the person behind it. Assuming the worst about people makes it easier to act on the worst parts of having authority. Bullies in the workplace do nobody any good.
Get it wrong and you can be dealing with a team that doesn’t like you, doesn’t like their job and doesn’t like the business. Get it right, and you’ll have a motivated, engaged team with no problems that you can’t handle. So, start thinking seriously about your responsibilities and how to best fulfill them.