Good bosses keep people skills polished

Photo/File

I'VE worked in many places and done many different types of work all around the world in my 46 years of living, including being a boss and working for bosses.

I get the whole concept about the business stuff that matters, like strategies, systems, processes, products and plans. But where we so often fall short is the people stuff; this is the stuff that really matters. The best business strategy will produce the worst result if it is led by people who are not valued or respected.

Smart bosses take care of their people who take care of their business. It's simple but in very short supply.

Some stuff about me: I've been self-employed on and off for the majority of my working life. I left school at 16 to pursue a sporting path moving into professional playing and coaching offshore at the age of 20. So for the past 26 years I have been learning how to motivate, encourage, lead, mentor, survive, connect and listen to people of all shapes and sizes. And while I run my own consultancy business nowadays I'm less of a boss and more of a mentor/leader.

In my years of experience many of the bosses I have encountered are brilliant at the brainy, theory, intellectual stuff and very poor at the people stuff - which means they will never be very good at business.

In my own experiences, the biggest mistake made by bosses is that they assume that everyone thinks, acts, behaves and perceives situations, conversations and challenges as they do.

Here are some tips if you have a boss who needs a little help in the area of people. You may want to apply the following to their forehead:

1). Let go of your ego and be a caring leader. Connect and communicate with your people. Do your people know you care and value them?

2). Never assume that your staff understand you. Get out of your own head and thoughts and live inside theirs. Remember you are the only person who thinks like you. Be less about you and more about a two-way interactive exchange.

3). Less talk about work. If you are the boss then how about every now and then a conversation about your staff? Take a genuine interest; it does matter. It's not about being a best friend or crossing personal lines. Just take a sincere interest now and then.

4). Make your actions a reflection of your words. Your team will be more interested in what you do, not what you say - talk is cheap and very easy.

5). Be consistent in all that you do. No need for the hilarious comedian one day and the emotional grumpy troll the next.

6). More questions, fewer instructions. Inspire your people to be creative, problem solvers, idea sharers and adaptable in all situations.

7). Ask the tough questions. Get over yourself and ask your staff to give you feedback on your leadership and communication style. This will provide you with a level of insight and perspective that cannot be gained any other way.

8). Be specific and clear about what you are saying - and not saying. Don't be a walking contradiction and don't send mixed messages. Say what you mean, mean what you say and don't leave people second-guessing.

Rod Bannister is an Australasian Masters squash champion, fitness expert and owner of One Mentoring, providing sales solutions for small to medium sized businesses - onementoring@gmail.com