My Infant Son Was the Best Boss I Ever Had

When I rank the bosses I have had throughout my life, I have to say my infant son is the best boss I've ever had. I'll admit to being just a bit biased in judging him. He's not an MBA or a management professional (yet), but he has many of the characteristics that a great boss should exhibit.

        First, he communicates directly. He doesn't go through a middle man, or waste time with fancy memos. When he needs something, he lets me know directly. He doesn't hesitate to tell me when there is a problem. And he doesn't sugar coat things. When he runs across a problem, he is direct and to the point. Many a boss makes the mistake of not being direct in communicating with their employees. Also, remember that communication must go both ways, from boss to employee, and from employee to boss.

        Many times a management professional will get bogged down with expectations. Of course, every job has requirements. But if these requirements aren't communicated to the employee, they may not meet your needs. Often, this isn't because they want to disappoint, the employee just doesn't understand what is expected. Be sure to ask your boss any questions you need to get your job done properly. And if you are the boss, be sure to communicate what is expected to your employee. If your employee isn't asking you clarifying questions, ask some of them. This will allow you to be sure that your message has gotten across. Another important point to remember is that with some employees, you may need to repeat your directions, or periodically review with them what your expectations are.

        Another great management characteristic my son exhibits is praise for a job well done. I never feel that what I do for him is unappreciated. Now he is quick to complain when a problem arises, but as soon as I take care of it, he gives me praise and appreciation. Be sure to reward your employees for a job well done. It doesn't take lots of money to reward an employee. A sincere thank you can really be a priceless gesture. If you do have any budget for employee incentives, be creative, but do use it. A huge mistake many bosses make is not to use all the resources available to them in rewarding their employees.

        A final skill I have learned from my son is to have fun, while getting the job done. Changing a dirty diaper really isn't my most pleasurable thing to do. However, when my little guy is smiling at me, laughing in the midst of it all, it makes the job go by quickly. We get the dirty work out of the way, so we can enjoy our boss-employee relationship. The same principle can be applied in your workplace. Whatever you do, it doesn't have to be grueling and dreadful. There are dirty jobs that must be done, but you can still have fun while doing them.