Don't be that boss

From PLN

Don't be that boss

1 Do be this boss
2 Additional points from the comments
3 Related articles
4 Your turn: Talk about it

by Tyler Rousseau, published February 11, 2008

Nowadays, I consider myself really lucky because I have an extremely level-headed boss. She might tell you her opinion and will definitely let you know when things need to improve but, in doing so, she never speaks in a way that I've construed as offensive. It's always been direct but not demeaning and I have never left her office feeling like I just got pummeled.I haven't always been so lucky though, I used to have one of the worst types of bosses imaginable: A Screamer.

On a near daily basis, I would hear my boss yelling at someone in her office. To put that in perspective: the distance from her office to my desk was through one room, then a hallway, up a flight stairs and then behind a solid oak door...a distance over 100 feet. To put this it in further perspective, I have a moderately severe hearing loss. If I could hear the screams just imagine what other employees and patrons actually heard her saying! I left the position almost exclusively because of her and took the first job offer that came my way... Fortunately, it lead me to my current boss.

But some of my friends aren't so lucky. Just having to listen to the nightmare stories and thinking back on my own experiences I am dumbfounded as to how these people wind up in management positions. What quality did they possess which made the administrators willing to go with such a nasty and ineffective communication skill? And what possibly makes that boss think that their method of management is, if not effective, is constructive or pragmatic in the overall scheme of running business!? Furthermore, how do these screamers possibly think they are actually good bosses!? And yet, it seems that I always have at least one friend who is plagued by such a boss...

In hopes of being proactive against the habits of "poor bosses" I have compiled a list of, shall we say, ethical goals I would like to instill upon myself in hopes of becoming a quality supervisor. By all means, please add your own advice.

Do be this boss

Do not panic: Even when things are at a panic stage, it is my job to present level-headedness, which leads to the second point...
Do not play into histrionics: Situations should emit their own sense of emotions and do not need my help.
Do be approachable: If staff and I cannot talk openly, then we are already on losing ground.
Do be pragmatic: When problems arise, find ways to fix them.
Do be clear with expectations: Make sure that staff knows what is expected of them and their job details.
Do not micromanage or get bogged down in minutiae: nobody likes someone looking over their shoulder and critiquing their work to the very foundation.
Do not personalize: Sometimes, you have to be the bad guy and some times people will goad you...but do not let it sink in.
Do be positive: Remember that your leadership will affect how the department runs.

Additional points from the comments

Don't let it fester: if you have a difficult situation/associate/problem to address, just do it. Letting it sit will only make things worse. (Mary Beth Sancomb-Moran)
Don't ask staff to do what you aren't willing to do yourself. (Liz B.)

Excerpted by permission from an October 15, 2007 post and comments at Library Garden

Tyler Rousseau is a Young Adult Librarian at the Lakewood Branch of the Ocean County (New Jersey) Library System who also blogs as The Rock & Roll Librarian.

We got trouble... - an overview for articles on internal difficulties.
Problematic management - Notes on management problems from beyond the library literature.
Forget the OPAC, why does library management suck? - George Needham discusses library management problems.
People who apologize earn more money! - There's nothing wrong with offering an apology when appropriate, and great leaders know to acknowledge a share of the blame.
Problematic communication and behavior - More notes beyond the library literature.