2015 Resolution: Working for a Good Boss

It’s another New Year filled with promise and those New Year’s Resolutions. When we think about what makes our lives easier, we are aware of the enormous amount of time that we spend at our jobs and how that affects our home life as well. Who we work for is key.

That time can be enhanced or made difficult depending on the boss that we have. One who allows us to have more work/life balance, or more appropriately called, work/life integration; has confidence that we will get the job done but also have a life outside of work which sometimes falls inside the work parameters. And the boss that appreciates this and is flexible, has an employee working for them that works outside the parameters when necessary and is not resentful doing this. There is a balance.

This means that many of us can take advantage of working at home or alternate hours when events like bad weather, doctor’s appointments, or family emergencies arise without taking precious vacation days that are limited.

Technology has made this possible with laptops, cell phones and many meetings that are held on the phone or Webex. Bosses who play the ‘power game’ and insist on employees being in the office, no matter what, run the risk of limited loyalty and distracted focus when issues occur. Obviously, some jobs don’t allow for this flexibility in the same way, but there are still ways that employees can be supported.

NJ BIZ magazine recently contacted me for an article, “Learning How to Lead…Being a better boss will create an engaged workforce and much better results,” to discuss this important aspect of our work lives.

See: Learning How to Lead – Being a Better Boss

Discussing what qualities made for a good or not so good boss are listed. How do you stock up as a Leader? And what is your Resolution for 2015? As noted in the article: In a survey conducted by Inc.com, 65% of employees said they would take a new boss over a pay raise, with 3 out of every 4 employees reporting their boss to be the worst and most stressful part of their job. Something to think about. Stress is not healthy and so we need to minimize that stress. It’s a new year, a new you. Take charge of your own situation. May it be a great New Year for you!