ITS Technologies

This article from Inc.com is in response to another column named 8 Beliefs of Extraordinary Bosses. The column covered eight great qualities of an excellent boss, but left out one important quality. A good boss also communicates their expectations to their team effectively. If you’re on either side of this situation, I highly suggest taking notes and passing these on!

1. Be true to your word. Whenever you accept an assignment, follow through religiously, even fanatically. Do what you say you’re going to do. Never overcommit, and avoid hedging your bets with vague statements like “I’ll try” and “maybe.”

2. No surprises, ever. The secret fear of every boss is that employees are screwing up but are not saying anything about it.  So even if you’re afraid some bad news might upset your boss, make sure he’s informed.

3. Be prepared on the details. Your boss wants to believe you’re competent and on top of things.  That’s why she sometimes picks an aspect of your job and begins randomly asking penetrating questions.

4. Take your job seriously.  Bosses need people who have unique expertise. You don’t have to be a pro at everything, but you should definitely have a specific area of knowledge that your boss values.

5. Have your boss’s back. When you see your boss about to make a foolish decision, it’s your responsibility to attempt to convince him to make a different one. Make your best case, and express yourself clearly. However, once the decision is actually made, do your best to make it work–regardless of whether you think it was the right one.

6. Provide solutions, not complaints. Nothing is more irritating or more boring than listening to somebody complain about things that they’re not willing to change.  So never bring up a problem unless you’ve got a solution to propose–or are willing to take the advice the boss gives you.

7. Communicate in plain language. When dealing with your boss, speak and write in short sentences, use the fewest words possible to make a point, and make that point clear and easily understandable.

8. Know your real job. Regardless of what it says on your job description, your real job is to make your boss successful. There are no exceptions to this rule. None.

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