What Kind Of Boss Do You Want?

Why does your boss ever like you?, a photo by PraveenbenK on Flickr.

It’s impossible to evaluate the quality of your job without considering the manager you work for. Feeling appreciated, and knowing your boss wants you to succeed can actually make a mediocre job seem better. In fact, it might make it hard to leave when you otherwise would.

You can recognize a good boss long before you get the job.  Since your on-the-job happiness quotient is crucial to your success, you must factor a good boss into your job search. When you interview for a position, you’re mostly focused on how to impress the Hiring Manager. But you should also look for clues that he will be the kind of mentor and manager you can thrive with.

Does he entertain emails, phone calls and interruptions during the interview? Chances are he’s not all that interested in making a good impression on you. Does he talk about team hurdles with sentences like “You will have to deal with…” instead of “We…”?  Does he bring his own personal hobbies, causes and issues into the interview? These might be the signs of a self-absorbed manager who will throw you both ends of the rope if you’re drowning in a job dilemma. It will become your problem to work out alone, with little help from him. If you don’t make this kind of manager look good, or if you challenge his ideas, he might take it personally.

A good boss has your back.  She’ll help you resolve a problem that is beyond your control, but she’ll take the bullet for the team with senior management. And if there’s a bad employee in the team, she’ll do something about it. She’ll avoid disasters by keeping team goals and expectations consistent, so you can get a grasp on how you will be measured for success. No one can thrive in a job where the target is constantly moving.

Your boss should create a space where you are able to grow and learn.  If he really wants you to succeed, your boss will give you credit when you have a win. Then he’ll go a step further to share your win with his bosses. Also, align your self to a manager who provides opportunities to develop your talents and celebrates when you reveal them to the world. It’s a red flag when a boss acts like he’s threatened if you do something better than he does.

Bad bosses are your best teachers.  In retrospect, I’ve learned the most from my worst bosses. I’ve learned what kind of environment suits me so I can do my best work. Mostly, I’ve learned how I never want to treat people. I think the worst managers are the ones that blame employees for errors, but take all the credit when the team wins. You probably have war stories of your own.

Don’t write off these bad boss situations as a waste in your career timeline. Instead, use them to make sure you become the kind of boss who encourages employees to do their best work. And if you are an individual contributor, don’t settle for a passive-aggressive boss that makes you miserable, no matter how good his or her intentions might be.