Have you ever wished your boss could tell you what they were really thinking? What they really wanted you to know? Do you ever sit in a meeting with your boss and wish they would just tell you what they really mean?
I think it’s difficult to be totally straight-forward with your employees for a few reasons. On the top of the list is obviously that they don’t want to hurt your feelings, they don’t want to alienate you from them, or perhaps they just don’t have the courage to be forthright with you.
So I had a think and have come up with a few things I think our bosses want us to know:
- I Notice You: Many times we strive to be noticed. We want to make sure our boss knows how many hours we put into that project, we want them to know it was our idea, we want them to see how hard we are working. Well, I believe they do. I think as an oversight of people, you make it your job to know how people are working. And of course as they say, “The proof is in the pudding”. Hard work shows and your boss notices you.
- Can We All Just Get Along? I can only imagine that one of the most challenging things a boss has to navigate is workplace conflict. I know the tendency is to be quick to run to the boss when our colleague is rude to us or we are treated unfairly but I am not sure this should be our first course of action. Your boss has many things on their mind and a heavy weight on their shoulders. The last thing they should be in the middle of is petty office conflict. So, try to resolve it within other channels before dragging your boss into it.
- Can I Trust You? Leading people is challenging enough as it is. But if you have to doubt whether your employees have your back, it’s a slippery slope to disaster. Trust is a vital currency that human beings trade with, especially in the work place. If your boss senses that you are undermining their every move, or discuss how you disagree with their decisions with your co-workers or badmouth them behind their back, it’s a recipe for disaster. When your boss knows they can trust you and you are a real team player, there is much more grace for mistakes, or typos, or missed deadlines. But if they can’t trust you, then everything you say and do will be under the microscope. Nobody wants to work in an environment like that.
So heading into a new year, let’s take an honest look at our work ethic, our attitude and our motives in the workplace. Regardless of whether your boss is the best ever or the worst ever, we can only be responsible for us. Let’s determine this year that we will be team players, easy to work with, full of integrity and trust worthy! Let’s trust God that he will reward us for doing what is right.
If you need God’s help to be this kind of employee, He’s just a prayer away! Click on the link below or on the pop up to find out more.