What are the quailities in a boss that you like/dislike?

[LANTIRN]

Office Strippers

[347Mike]

Spot fucking on! But then, I've come to expect nothing less.

I'd like to add...
1. If it ain't broke, don't even try to fix it.
2. Don't EVER try to do something the way "we did it at this place I worked at before". If it was so great, you'd still be there!
3. If you even catch a hint of a problem, be proactive, but efficient. Go only as far as you need to to rectify the problem but then get out of it.
4. Without being everyone's buddy (that undermines your authority), do what you can to make it a place where the employees look forward to coming to work. (As previously mentioned, donuts are always welcome)

You would hate my job.

[helosailor]

You would hate my job.

Job or boss?

[bcoop]

Strychnine hit the nail on the head. I hate micro management. The company I work for has never done this, as long as you are doing your job. The companies we represent do micromanage, because they are being micromanaged. It's caused a couple people to leave the company.

As for me, meh. I'm doing my job. My numbers are good. Specifically, overall, I'm up 30% in a down economy. They can kiss my ass. And I'm pretty vocal about it. I flat out ignore their bullshit reports, updates, etc. I was recently cornered by an AVP, and asked why I never respond to his requests for reports, updates, ride alongs, etc. I told him just that. "My numbers are good, my customers don't like you, and I'm not damaging relationships by bringing you around when they don't want you there. When my numbers drop, call me. Until then, stay the fuck out of my way."

[Baba Ganoush]

I've had both the absentee boss and the visible leader.

It was nice not seeing my boss except at the monthly bar-b-ques. Although when he was present it put our team on edge and hampered any changes or improvements. We would keep chugging along, eroding the tolerance for mistakes. Errors were the quickest, and sometimes the only way to summon his presence.

When he was ever-present, making it his mission to be involved, it was better. It takes a genuine person to be this leader.

Of course depending on the aim of the company, this isn't always the case. If it's tuff business or the customer comes second to the revenue, distance is always good.

[Silverback]

Dont micromanage.

If your team is getting shit done, don't hover over them, don't schedule pointless meetings, don't ask for constant progress reports, etc. In short, stay out of the way

I agree and disagree.

Some people need to be micromanaged and some don't.

I look at it like this, when it comes to the important shit that needs to be done in my job, I don't need to be managed at all, I get my work done, and I'm good in a crisis. But when it comes to "corporate goals" and other BS, I need someone to stay on my ass to get those things done and by the deadline.

I'm not the best an managing my time when I have multiple projects going on. I like a boss that checks in regularly to make sure things are on schedule and priorities are evaluated for each task. The funny thing is, while I'm bad at doing these things for myself, when I'm managing a project or people, I'm awesome at it

My boss is probably one of the best bosses I've ever worked for. Part of the reason is, he used to do the same job I do, so he knows exactly what it takes to get things done, and is understanding about timelines, etc. He also stays out of the way for the most part, and doesn't micromanage day to day work. He lets us work from home, and come and go as we please. His only major rules for that are as long as someone isn't calling him wondering why I haven't done what I was supposed to, I'm free to work as I please. He's also an easy going, one of the guys, managers, he jokes with us, and makes fun of corporate BS like the rest of us. He also goes to bat for his team in meetings with other departments or when someone does have an issue with the team. He knows his team is technical, he knows each member's strengths and weaknesses and assigns projects based on them. He's also really good at making sure we grow in the company how we want to. We have regular meetings to help align our career path, whether I want to stay technical or move into management, he's good about coaching us to help us go where we want to in the company. Aside from the BS that a Fortune 500 company has going on, he's one of the major reasons I like my job, and I stay with Dell instead of looking for another job. I used to move jobs every couple of years to try to progress, now I'm hoping to do it here.

[yellowstang]

Dislike: wish they made it in a convertible
Like: limited editon car

[VaderTT]

Big tits and tight round asses.

[347Mike]

Job or boss?

Job.

[motoman]

Dont micromanage.

If your team is getting shit done, don't hover over them, don't schedule pointless meetings, don't ask for constant progress reports, etc. In short, stay out of the way

\thread

[TX_92_Notch]

This is going to sound way off but micromanaging made me a better employee and in return a better supervisor and handle tasks better in general.

When you are constantly being hounded for updates and progress reports you learn how to manage time and meet deadlines - unless you have no ambition to do better than what you are currently doing. I looked at it as a challenge and was proactive. Have stuff lined up and ready to go before they could ask for it.

Did I like being micromanaged for those 2-3 years? No, but it made me more productive in my opinion. Did I think about quiting? Yes. But I thinkt he long term result had much more positives than it did negative.

Like I said, odd way of looking at it but I am just speaking from personal experience. I work in a very fast past environment though too, so any dilly dallying is frowned upon even if you get your shit done.



I guess to answer your original question, I would say one of the things I like is the praise. Even during my days of being micromanaged if I received praise on a regular basis for things I excelled at or exceeded expectations, it made being micromanaged a lot easier. It also lets you know you are worth a damn.

To me, that's not micro-managing. Someone hounding you to meet a deadline is just being overbearing. Micro-managing is when they want to tell you how to do every aspect of your job, like they can do it better or they don't trust you.

[Silverback]

To me, that's not micro-managing. Someone hounding you to meet a deadline is just being overbearing. Micro-managing is when they want to tell you how to do every aspect of your job, like they can do it better or they don't trust you.

Micromanaging is both really.

A macro manager assigns general tasks/goals and allows you to complete them as you see fit, they check in from time to time, but basically let you run with your tasks until a deadline.

A micro manager assigns specific and measurable tasks/goals, and consistantly checks in on progress, wants reports and status updates on short intervals, they basically want you to report everytime you've made a call, sent an email, took a poop, etc.

Typically a micromanager is being micrmanaged by their boss or senior leadership, so they filter it down to their direct reports

[motoman]

they basically want you to report everytime you've made a call, sent an email, took a poop, etc.

It seems like most call centers are like this.

[Silverback]

It seems like most call centers are like this.

That's typically because of the way call centers are built. Metrics are important to upper level executive, because accurate and measurable statistics are what drive the budget in a call center environment.

Most of the people who work in call centers are unskilled workers, and typically those types, not all, are slackers by nature, they clock in, do the minimum amount of work required, clock out and go home. While there's nothing wrong with this if that's they way they want to work, it's what requires all of the extra micromanagement. Without it, people would take andvantage and work even less.

I think a lot of people forget one simple thing when they are at work. These people are PAYING YOU to be here. So within reason, just do what they ask of you, it's not that hard.

[mustangguy289]

When it comes time for your workers to need a day off or to take vacation be cool about it and don't make them feel bad for it.