5 Leadership Traits Every Great Boss Should Have

What are some leadership traits great bosses have? From your own experience, I'm sure you can tell the difference between a good boss and a bad boss!

And let's face it, nobody likes a bad boss.

In fact, according to a study from DDI, "57% of employees who walk out the door do so specifically because they can't stand their boss. This includes 14% of employees who say they've left multiple jobs because of their boss."

The study also shows that "another 32% have "seriously considered" leaving their job because of their boss. That means only 12% of employees have never quit—or have even thought of quitting—because of their manager."

While there are many leadership traits that make up a great FEC owner or manager, there are several that rise to the top as most critical when it comes to employee retention! Let's explore.

5 Leadership Traits Every Great Boss Should Have

1. Communication

Your employees aren't mind-readers. You can't expect them to work on particular tasks or complete them according to your preference if you don't explain what and how you would like something to be done.

When there are defined goals to meet and clear processes in place to get them there, it leaves little room for error. But if an error is made, you'll be able to pull them aside, let them know where they went wrong, and how to improve next time. It's a great training opportunity!

Remember, people love being praised! Be sure to communicate with your team members when they're doing a great job, especially when there are other staff members—and even customers—around. This motivates them to continue working hard and shows the rest of your team what behavior and actions you wish to see.

2. Trust

It's also important that your team is able to communicate with you. If you have an unapproachable demeanor, your staff is going to feel uncomfortable. They'll be apprehensive about coming to you with questions or concerns they may have, which could lead to potentially more serious issues down the road, such as unhappy customers or faulty equipment.

You need to communicate to your team that they can trust you, that they can confide in you, and you will be there to help them.

Trust also goes both ways. Nobody likes a micro-manager. You hired the individuals on your team because you deemed them capable of doing the jobs you need them to...right?

So let them lead!

If you've properly communicated what you need to be done and how you'd like them to do it, you need to trust they're going to listen and have the skills to get it done right.

You can't be everywhere all the time. If you've hired employees that you don't feel confident can accomplish tasks without you around, it might be time to reconsider your hiring qualifications.

3. Fairness

Be fair. Don't play favorites just because you're best friends with Sally's dad. Your employees notice, and to be honest, you're not doing Sally any favors as she'll likely be excluded from the team bond you want everyone to have because they'll start to resent her. Give everyone the same opportunities to succeed.

That being said, fairness also means rewarding those that deserve it. It's important to recognize staff members who put in the extra hours and go out of their way to create amazing customer experiences for your guests. It wouldn't be fair to promote a sub-par employee just because you like them as a person, right?

At the end of the day, you're running a business. One that you wish to be successful not just in the short-term, but for years to come.

Give each of your employees the same opportunities to succeed, but make sure to recognize the ones that decide to take advantage of the opportunity.

4. Respect

Have you ever heard the phrase "You get what you give?" 

You need to respect your employees for them to respect you. Everyone knows you're the boss, so you don't need to go out of your way to shout orders and boss people around for them to know this. No one likes being made to feel "less than."

Use The Golden Rule as your compass, and you'll have a team that works hard with a positive attitude each day because they want to see you and the business they work for succeed!

5. Guidance

Guidance is a key leadership trait to have if you're in charge. Many people are looking for a mentor in their boss, someone who can show them how to improve and "move up the ranks" so they can be in a leadership position themselves one day.

If your team doesn't feel like you care about their success, they won't care to help you towards your success.

Be a mentor and offer training opportunities to all of your staff. If you see that someone wants to grow, give them a shot! You never know, they might just be a future manager someday.

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