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IS being a good boss something we can learn? Although some personality traits are innate, some others can be practiced. And improved.

Being a good boss is a real plus, as it will lead to a better atmosphere and productivity in the agribusiness workplace, whether it be large or small.

If you’re a manager of a business operating somewhere along the beef supply chain, always aim to keep your staff happy by being ready to listen, understand their needs and work together to look for a positive outcome.

If you are someone who is pretty much the ultimate authority within your business or company, there are a few guidelines you should follow to be the best possible boss:

 

Realise that management succeeds via the efforts of the workers

Because you’re in charge doesn’t mean you deserve all the credit for the work being done. In most businesses, your staff are responsible for the bulk of the work.

Delegate responsibility and then trust your people.

Micro-managers are never appreciated and shows disrespect toward the team member. Once you’ve trained someone to handle a task, allow him or her to handle it without interference. Different people have different approaches, and someone else’s way of doing something may be just as efficient as the way you would do it. Constantly correcting your people undercuts their confidence and does not allow them to exercise their own style.

Know your employees to know your strength.

Watch your staff: get to know them as individuals. Understand their motives: whatever that is, do your best to understand. That allows you to enhance, adjust, and align their motives with your goals.

Empower your staff to make decisions, and don’t second-guess them.

If you’ve done a good job of training your staff, then you must believe they are doing their best to act in your and your business’s best interest. Even if they make a wrong decision, or handle a situation in a way you would not have, don’t second guess them.

Deal with any problems quickly and directly.

When you see a problem, deal with it quickly and don’t nag your people about it later. Try to elicit the agreement that whatever just happened was not acceptable. Remember that your goal is to promote productive behaviour and retain the respect of your employee, not to antagonise your people.

 

Importance of developing trust

Developing trust and conveying appreciation to your employees, might be all it takes to become the best boss you can be.

The benefits of employee satisfaction speak volumes, and being a good boss with great management skills can bring many benefits to your employees.

Reaping these rewards will see a number of benefits:

• Productivity

Replacing a poor manager with a good one can be equivalent to taking on an additional member of staff.

• Healthier and safer staff

Workplaces with top managers have few incidents, sick days and absenteeism

• High quality output

Companies with good management and leadership teams experience a high quality of work output.

• Improved customer satisfaction

Well-looked after employees will in turn look after your customers

• Higher profits

Companies with a good leadership and management team in place will see increase in their performance or market share.

 

Employees don’t want costly benefits and gimmicks – they simply want good management. To be the best boss, you need to take an active role in prompting employee prosperity.

Here are five simple actions to take:

Develop your staff: Offer constructive feedback to employees and provide opportunities for them to take the lead on projects – it can make staff more productive.

Praise good work: Recognise your staff for a job well done and they will be more likely to produce consistently good work, without expecting more money.

Create the right environment: Be empathetic and make employee feel as though they have someone to talk to if they need.

Encourage staff ownership: Increasing accountability for projects can mean employees take more pride in their work

Increase team morale: Treat your employee with respect and courtesy. By respecting your staff they will respect you back.

 

To be the best boss, you don’t need expensive benefits – just a hands-on approach to creating a great workplace, be it on a cattle station, feedlot, livex depot or processing facility.

 

Source: AWX Agribusiness – Partners in People.