Becoming an Exceptional Boss: Key Strategies for Success
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Attract an all-star team with core values
- Establish a shared vision
- Create a culture of accountability
- Conclusion
- About Gino Wickman and Renee Bohr
🌟 Introduction
In today's competitive business landscape, employee engagement plays a crucial role in the success of any organization. Countless studies have shown that disengaged employees can cost companies a lot in terms of performance and productivity. In this article, we will delve into the importance of being a great boss and how it can positively impact your organization. We will explore the insights of Gino Wickman and Renee Bohr, who provide valuable advice on how to bring out the best in your employees and create a thriving work environment.
🚀 Attract an all-star team with core values
According to Jim Collins, author of "Built to Last," successful organizations owe their achievements to leaders who define a clear set of core values and recruit, promote, and retain employees based on how well they embody those values. Core values act as a compass for your organization, guiding decision-making and steering your team in the right direction. Take the example of Dick Gill, founder of Gil Security, who defines his company's core values as continuous improvement, customers first, and old-fashioned work ethic. By hiring and promoting employees who align with these core values, Gill has curated a team that consistently goes above and beyond for their clients.
To build an all-star team with core values, follow these three key steps:
Step 1: Define your organization's core values
Clearly articulate the factors that make up your organization's soul. These core values will serve as the foundation for hiring and promoting decisions.
Step 2: Evaluate employees based on core values
Create a scoring system to assess how well each employee embodies the core values. On top of that, evaluate their qualifications and performance in relation to their unique roles.
Step 3: Take action
Provide positive feedback and constructive criticism to help employees align themselves with their role requirements and the company's core values. For employees who consistently fall short, employ a three-strike approach, allowing ample opportunity for improvement before termination.
By attracting and retaining employees who embrace your organization's core values, you'll build a team that is motivated and dedicated to the company's success. This, in turn, allows you as a boss to focus on providing growth opportunities and finding innovative ways for your business to thrive.
🔮 Establish a shared vision
As a boss, your primary goal is to provide clear direction and guidance to your employees. This goes beyond simply assigning tasks but entails outlining a clear vision that everyone in the organization can rally behind. Wickman and Bohr suggest making five things crystal clear to your employees:
1. Core values and core focus
Clearly articulate your company's core values and the central focus of your organization. This helps employees understand the purpose behind their actions.
2. Marketing strategy
Outline your organization's marketing strategy, including a clear overview of your ideal customer and what attracts them to your company. This link between actions and customers motivates employees.
3. Long-term and short-term targets
Define your organization's 10-year, three-year, and one-year targets. This gives employees a sense of how their actions contribute to the big picture and the near future.
4. Quarterly rocks
Break down your one-year plan into tangible objectives called "rocks." These are the three to seven most important priorities for the next 90 days. Assign ownership of each rock to hold employees accountable.
5. Issues, ideas, opportunities, obstacles, and barriers
Encourage employees to provide input on the challenges and opportunities the organization faces. Create a culture where addressing these elements is a collective effort.
Regularly reviewing these five elements with your employees keeps everyone aligned and motivated towards a shared vision. Additionally, conducting weekly meetings and check-ins ensures that progress is tracked, obstacles are addressed, and everyone remains focused on achieving the company's goals.
🤝 Create a culture of accountability
A crucial aspect of being a great boss is fostering a culture of accountability. Holding both yourself and your employees accountable ensures that expectations are met and everyone is committed to fulfilling their roles and responsibilities. Wickman and Bohr suggest that being a great boss means being a great leader and a great manager.
Be a great leader
Provide clear direction, inspire and empower your employees, and act in the best interest of the organization. By doing so, you create an environment where employees are motivated to give their best.
Be a great manager
Set clear expectations, communicate effectively, recognize achievements, and give constructive feedback. Rewarding and recognizing employees' accomplishments is a powerful motivator.
To cultivate a culture of accountability, implement the following practices:
- Conduct weekly meetings to discuss progress, address issues, and support employees' efforts towards fulfilling their goals.
- Have quarterly one-on-one conversations with each employee to review their performance, identify areas of improvement, and create action plans.
- Hold company-wide quarterly meetings to share performance metrics, recognize achievements, and gather input for improvement.
By consistently engaging in productive communication and providing opportunities for employees to share their thoughts, concerns, and ideas, you create a culture where everyone feels heard, valued, and motivated to contribute their best to the organization's success.
👋 Conclusion
In this article, we've explored the importance of being a great boss and how it can positively impact your organization's performance. Building an all-star team with core values, establishing a shared vision, and creating a culture of accountability are key elements to achieving this goal. By following the insights of Gino Wickman and Renee Bohr, you can bring out the best in your employees, empower them to excel, and foster a thriving work environment.
📚 About Gino Wickman and Renee Bohr
Gino Wickman is a best-selling author and the creator of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). As the founder of EOS Worldwide, Wickman helps leaders gain control of their organizations, achieve work-life balance, and drive traction towards success.
Renee Bohr has 30 years of experience in the restaurant industry, working with national brands such as Pizza Hut and Jamba Juice. As a certified implementer of EOS, Bohr has helped numerous bosses grow their organizations while enjoying personal freedom.
