Previous generations had bosses that would appear periodically, bark orders and then leave. That was normal. Most of the bosses I worked for throughout my career were not very involved with their subordinates. Few attempted to develop teams. They seemed to always have things to do in their offices with the door closed. They rarely showed their faces and when they did it was usually unpleasant. The best days at work were those when the boss was nowhere to be found.
The problem is that today’s worker is expecting a boss who is more of a coach. They are looking for someone who takes time to invest personally in their relationship. They are seeking a boss who will support their professional growth. The model of the disconnected boss isn’t going to work well today. Many from my generation are ill-prepared for these new expectations.
Despite what you’ve read about today’s workers, they do not want to be handled in a soft, condescending way. They expect a coach who is tough, demanding and who will drive them to be the best versions of themselves. Anyone who played sports understands that a great coach isn’t a softy who gives everyone a pass. A great coach is not overly empathetic and does not accept lame excuses. Great coaches are strong people, with high expectations, but also with a knack for getting the best out of people.
Today’s boss needs to be a great coach. This includes everyone in a supervisory position, from crew leaders on up. Coaching is more than the next fad. We need to teach people how to be a great coach because it rarely comes naturally. We need to develop career paths for our people and provide the resources for them to learn and grow. We need to invest in our teams.
In my popular workshop, “Developing Great Crew Leaders,” attendees are asked to describe the best boss they’ve ever worked for. In almost every case, they describe a coach who was actively involved in their lives. They describe a coach who motivated them to do their best and who held them accountable. They describe a coach who was fair but tough. Sometimes their best boss was from their past but sometimes it is the person sitting next to them.
If you haven’t yet caught the “coaching wave,” now would be a good time to jump in and give it a try. Your people will thank you. You might even end up being the “best boss” in one of my workshops!
Now go forth.
