They say don’t pick a job, pick a boss. You must be wondering how one can make this far-reaching idea possible. How are we supposed to choose our own boss? The answer is simple: the same way we choose a job. Here we are going to discuss on how to pick a great boss
When you pick a job, you are also picking a boss. The right kind of boss can drive motivation, growth, and satisfaction of an employee with the job. The wrong kind of a boss can do pretty much the opposite: demoralize workers, stunt growth, and considerably reduce an employee’s satisfaction with the job. A recent survey conducted by Gallup released last month exposed a surprising statistic. About 50% of the 7,200 workers studied said they left their job because of a bad boss, or “to get away from their manager”. It seems that worker-manager relationship isn’t as great as it should be.
Before we get into the details of exactly how “choosing a boss” can be accomplished, let’s talk about what defines a good boss. Here are some of the top qualities you want to be looking out for in your future boss/manager.
A good boss …
- Is not worried about who “controls”.
- Facilitates learning and growth
- A good boss encourages questions/feedback from employees
- Is an inspiration
- Doesn’t demand respect and works on deserving it
- Does not use fear as a motivator
A bad boss…
- Micromanages others
- Is extremely inflexible
- Instills fear among employees
- Insists that he/she is right
- Is self-focused
4 Best Tips to Choose the Right Boss:
To save yourself from a vast amount of stress, frustration, and discontent with a job because you simply can’t get along with a boss, you need to take the following steps.
1. Search Them Up: You can turn the tables around by researching your boss and all there is to know about their profession — or professionalism. You can achieve this the same way a boss would perform background checks on an applicant (you) for screening purposes. Managers don’t limit their research to what they see on paper (your resume or cover letter). According to Jobvites Social Recruiting Survey published in 2014, “the number of recruiters and companies using social media is steadily on the rise” and a sweeping 93% of those surveyed agreed to use the medium for recruitment.
You can expect to get interviewed by the head of the department you have applied to. Whether this is the first time you get called for an interview or the next, you have a clear way of knowing who to look up. Once you’ve got a name, title, or a face, you can search up your would-be manager on popular social media networks such as Linked in, Twitter, or Facebook. What noteworthy qualifications does this person have? What personality type would you say this person is (type A, type B)? How does he seem react to day-to-day problems or situations (if the information is available)?
2. Ask What People Know: If you have a strong network linked to your potential boss, you’re in for luck. Current or past employees are the best source of information when you looking forward to learning more about how an organization operates, particularly judgments onhow specific people behave during work and treat others. If you don’t know anyone from that organization, you can find ways to cultivate relationships with professionals in the field and come upon a “link” to that organization. This will take time and research, but your efforts would definitely be worth it if you are seeking a successful and long lasting career.
3. Study them During the Interview: The best way to find out whether or not you will have chemistry with your boss is by meeting him in person. The first meeting will obviously be during your interview. Make sure you have a set of questions prepared to ask your would-be manager when it’s your time to ask questions. The following questions would help you judge their management style:
- “Can you talk about your department’s accomplishments in the past year?” This question is a tricky one because here you are going to be watching out for “I” and “we” answers. You are not being specific about whether or not you asked for accomplishments achieved by the department as a whole or his/her personal accomplishments. Also take note of what the manager did, and not what others did, to achieve the tasks. A good manager would give credit to the whole team.
- “How would you resolve an XYZ situation?”: Here you are going to refer to a day-to-day problem encountered in the department. For example, the sales department would often encounter a troubling customer. If they say they would react way you would, you’re likely to have good rapport with the manager.
4. Watch out for Body Language: Listen carefully during the interview and watch out for hidden cues. Does the manager seem detached/disinterested in what you have to say? Maybe they’re not the right fit. Does the manager intimidate you or challenge your answers? You can expect them to behave the same way in future.
In the end, it’s best to trust your gut. If you feel you’re going to be working too hard to impress your manager the same way you did at an interview, don’t sign up for what you know you can’t handle.
It is not always the toxic colleagues or employees that make a good employee’s life seem like hell at workplace. Sometimes, it is the bosses as well who – if you end up working under bad one –can make your life more pitiful than you can ever imagine. Therefore, don’t just look out for good and well-paying jobs, but also for good bosses. It is because a good boss will always acknowledge your efforts, appreciate the hard work you put, reward you when you do something good, and even show leniency if something bad happens from your end. So, good luck finding a best job, because everyone deserves one!
Author Bio: James Thompson is an experienced and passionate writer having diverse expertise in education, career and technology. He provides reliable and dedicated Help with Essay UK to students for better grades.