Being the 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 a ‘boss’ overnight?

Belting out orders and cracking the whip on your team is not going to work unless you are aiming for the ‘dragon lady’ title. So how do you go from taking orders to giving them?

Follow these simple rules and being the boss could actually be easy.

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 opendoor policy that allows your teammates to speak to you whenever they want.

“My boss’s 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 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.

Don't Play Divide-and-Rule

There is competition everywhere. Your job is to see that competition remains healthy at all times. Promote unity and encourage teamwork.

Make it a point to discourage gossip and backbiting. While praising one person, you don’t have to pull down another. Instead, identify each one’s strengths and highlight them.

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 instilling motivation for your team.

“At my previous company, I used to really look forward to the monthly team lunches and the half-yearly outing that used to be 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.

Don't Steal Credit

When you have a team, 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, send out an email mentioning 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.

Set the Rules and Stick by them

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

“We have to be in office by 10am and the good part is my boss is always there on time too,” says Josh Davidson, a media consultant.

Keep the Communication Lines Open

“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.

Follow these simple guidelines and be assured that your team will enjoy working with you.