It’s performance evaluation time in lots of workplaces this month, and you might be preparing for a meeting with your boss to talk about how well you’re performing. But what about how well your manager is performing?
You probably can’t call a meeting to assess your boss’s work, but it’s still useful to reflect on whether you’re working with a skilled, effective manager or not. Realizing that your boss is doing a great job can raise your satisfaction at work overall … and realizing your boss isn’t very good at managing often can help put some frustrations in context.
[See: Tips for Surviving a Career Transition.]
Now, you might think it’s easy to tell whether you have a good boss or not. But people regularly describe their managers as being great for reasons like “she’s laid-back” or “he always pitches in to help us when we’re on a deadline crunch” or “she helped me get into grad school.” Those things are certainly nice qualities in a boss, but they’re not the crux of what makes someone good at the job of managing. Instead, as you’re assessing how well your boss manages you and your team, think about these traits and behaviors:
Does your boss set clear expectations? Does she ensure that you know what it would look like to do a great job on specific projects and in your role overall, or do you sometimes feel that you’re stumbling around, unsure of what it would take to get high praise on a project? Are you ever surprised to find that your boss was expecting your work to look very different than it did? A good manager will take the time to hash out expectations on the front end so that you have a clear understanding of what it will take to be successful, and so that you’re not investing your time and energy in the wrong areas.
Does your boss give you regular feedback, both positive and more critical? A good manager will give you regular, clear and specific feedback through the year about what you’re doing well and what you could do better. You should generally hear much more positive than negative feedback, but your boss shouldn’t shy away from telling you when your work is falling short or you need to better develop a skill.
[See: How to Quit Your Job Like a Class Act.]
Does your boss keep the focus on what results you’re getting and give you room to figure out how to get there? Or does she dictate exactly how to do everything and watch over every little step in the process? Good managers do stay involved as work unfolds, so that they can act as a resource and course-correct if needed. But they also give employees the space to be creative and figure out the best way to reach a goal.
Does your boss welcome your input, and let you in on her reasoning for the decisions she makes? Good bosses seek out input on everything from how to perfect a strategy to whether a deadline is realistic. Decisions won’t always go everyone’s way, but a good manager will make sure that people feel heard and respected, and will genuinely want the benefit of hearing perspectives other than their own.
Does your boss treat you like a professional adult or like a wayward teenager who will misbehave if you’re not monitored all the time? Good bosses know that they’ve hired adults and will trust you to be responsible and to manage your own time and work. They won’t demand doctor’s notes when you’re out sick, give you a hard time for occasionally leaving early on a slow week when your workload allows it or prohibit telecommuting simply because they don’t trust you to work when they can’t see you.
[See: The 6 Best Jobs for Work-Life Balance.]
Does your boss push you to achieve at high levels without being unrealistic? This is a tricky balance, but the best managers know how to push you toward ambitious goals without getting into the realm of the unreasonable or the unrealistic. And while good managers have high expectations, they’re willing to brainstorm with you about how to meet those expectations — helping you lay out a plan or develop your skills, not just assigning you a big goal and then disappearing.
Does your boss address problems forthrightly? Or do you see problems ignored and allowed to fester? Good bosses won’t put off hard conversations, like letting someone know their work is falling short or that their attitude is alienating co-workers. Strong bosses know that if there’s a serious problem on their team, that reflects on their own performance most of all.
Does your boss treat you and your co-workers with dignity and respect? A manager who yells, disparages people, shoots the messenger or expects you not to have a life outside of work is failing at one of the most important tests of a manager. Good managers know that good employees have options, and that they won’t stay long in a workplace that mistreats them.
More from U.S. News
Famous CEOs and Executives Share Their Best Career Advice
10 Reasons to Quit Your Job Already
How to Tell if You Have a Good Boss originally appeared on usnews.com
