How to Be the Perfect Boss

Being the boss is never easy but going from being a team member to being a team leader is even tougher. After all, how can you expect your teammates to see you as 'boss' overnight? Belting out orders and cracking the whip on your team is not going to work unless you are looking for the 'dragon boss' title.

So how do you go from taking orders to giving orders? How do you get your team to co-operate with you and respect your authority? Follow these simple rules and being the boss could actually be easy.

1) Listen to your teammates.

While you may be right most often, it’s a good idea to be open to feedback. Keep the communication lines open. Have an open door policy that allows your team-mates to meet you whenever they want (provided you aren’t busy of course). 

"My boss' cabin is just next to my desk so I can pop in any time. I can be honest with her if I'm having trouble with a deadline or I'm facing any issues with the office infrastructure. She cannot always fix everything but she helps us find alternative solutions," says Smita Diwan, a PR professional.

 2) Don't play divide-and-rule.

There is competition everywhere. Your job is to see that that competition remains healthy at all times. Promote unity and encourage teamwork. And make it a point to discourage gossip and backbiting at any cost.

While praising one person you don’t have to pull down another. Instead identify each one’s strengths and make the most of them.

3) Provide incentives.

Work satisfaction is too small an incentive these days. Set up challenges for the team and promise a reward for the one who meets them. Movie tickets or a meal at a fancy restaurant can go a long way in boosting motivation of your team.

"In my old company, I used to really look forward to the monthly team lunches and the half yearly outing organised by my boss," says Aparna Menon, a BPO executive. It’s a great way to build team spirit and make work all the more fun.

4) Don't steal credit.

When you have a team under you, it’s easy to get them to do all the work and then take credit for it. So here’s what you do instead – Once a target is completed well, send out an email making mention of each one’s contribution to your entire team and mark your seniors on it. This way everyone gets their rightful due.

Also make sure to recommend your subordinates to the management and help them get ahead in their careers.

5) Set the rules and stick by them.

It's easy to make rules but do you yourself obey them? If not, then you might want to start leading by example.

"We have to be in office by 10:00 am but the great part is my boss is always there on time too," says Josh Davidson, a media consultant. "Also, he's never too rigid. Once we are done with work, we can leave for the day."

If you’ve set a rule that no one seems to obey (not even you), then you might be going overboard. Be willing to reconsider the rulebook.

And that’s how you can be the perfect boss. Trust us, your team will love working with you.