4 traits of a great boss

YOU are the boss. Do you consider yourself a good one? If you’re not quite sure how to answer that, here are four traits of an awesome boss that you might want to consider.

A great boss is a rock: When times get tough, employees can get rattled. As the boss, it’s your job to stay cool, calm, and collected. When craziness invades your office, you are the one who calms everyone down. Step back, take a deep breath, and lead your team in solving whatever problem has arisen.

A great boss is honest: You might be thinking, “I don’t lie.” But what about those little “white” lies that we all tend to tell at least every now and then? When it comes to your employees, you’re not doing them any favors if you’re not completely upfront with them. Sometimes you may think it’s in an employee’s best interest to let something slide, but if you really want your staff to trust you, you should be honest about anything that could affect them.

A great boss is a mechanic: You may not be able to change out a radiator, but as the mechanic of your office, you keep things running smoothly. Being able to troubleshoot and fix problems can be one of the most important aspects of being a leader. When difficult issues arise, you’re the one who should embrace the challenge of fixing them.

A great boss loves what they do: If you don’t love your job and what you do, your employees will know it. While you might fool some people for a while, sooner or later it’ll start to show. If you don’t love the position you’re in, it’ll be really tough for you to be optimistic, engaging, and motivating.