Episode 199: How to Be a Good Boss with Dana

So, let's talk about how to be a good boss. This is a question I get asked a lot, since we've grown a pretty great team here at Boss Mom.

I'm by no means a perfect boss (I have to remind myself regularly that no one is!) but there are some things that I've learned will definitely help you be a better boss when you get to the point of hiring and leading team members in your business.

What I always seem to hear is that people are afraid of hiring people. And, I get it....the prospect of things not working out as planned, and hiring people actually making our lives harder instead of easier is a scary one!

There's a million questions that often run through our heads when we think of hiring a team.....

How do I know what to give them to do?

How do I make sure they stay on top of doing their job?

How do I make sure hiring someone is actually worth it to me?

What will I do if it doesn't work out?

All of this, and so much more, is what we're going to dive in and address in this episode, so click play and enjoy.

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Being a good boss isn't all about things being easy.....but it does get easier over time. I think that, just like in relationships, we have to past this idea that we'll find the perfect person, fall in love with them the second we meet them, that everything's going to be perfect and we'll just "get" each other.

The reality is that things don't usually work out like that. Good relationships take time to bud and bloom, and it's the same with hiring in our businesses.

1. Don't expect perfection

You can't live in a fantasy world where everything is rainbows and roses thinking all of a sudden someone is just going to present themselves to you and they're going to be perfect and wonderful and never do anything wrong, and you'll never do anything wrong, and they're going to always know what they're supposed to do and life is going to be perfect.

We have to realize that life and business and working with people takes a little work. The key is having some really good processes in place for when things don't work out.

I think we spend a lot of time trying to create great processes for making things work, and we forget to create a good process for handling the times when things don't work, which results in massive time waste.

2. Only hire your ideal client

You want to strive to only work with people that really love what you do, what you stand for, and how everything works in your business.

If they aren't passionate about your business then how are they going to be passionate about their job?

Even if they're only working a few hours per week, how are they going to be committed fully if they don't care about what you're doing?

3. Ask your team to help you define roles and processes

The best way to let a team member own their role in your business is to let them own their role! Explain what ultimately needs to happen, but then ask them to write out their true job description, what they want to do, how they can best go about executing their role, and where they want to go within your business.

The key to being a good boss is the same key to growing a thriving community - people just want to feel like they are valued and heard, cared about and for.

You don't have to have all the answers. Allow them the space to create and innovate, and you can fill in the blanks.

It's often easier to edit what you don't like or doesn't work than for you to start from scratch yourself. We often don't know what we want or don't want until we see it.

Also, for technical processes you can record a video of yourself walking through the process you need your team member to take over, then you can share it, review it together to make sure their aren't any gaps in their understanding of their role or where they are wanting to go in your business.

4. Communicate like a crazy person

If something isn't working - TELL THEM. If you've hired someone that gets really upset when you ask for tweaks and adjustments, you need to either reset expectations or that person isn't going to work.

Most people are going to be totally on board with tweaking and adjusting so they can learn you and your brand better and get more efficient at their job.

Communication is key. Keep each other updated and let each other know what's going on.

5. Assess often

You only want people doing things in your business that they absolutely love. Regularly check in to make sure they're happy and fulfilled where they're at and how they'd like to serve within your team.

Referenced in the Show:

• The 5 Love Languages

(Just FYI, some of these links may be affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase using the links I may receive some love in return!)

Connect with Dana

• Dana: Instagram / Boss Mom Facebook Community (her total happy place)

We love hearing from you!

If you've got a question about today's episode or want to leave us some inbox love, you can email us at hello@boss-mom.com. Or, you can always find Dana hanging out in her happy place, the Boss Mom Facebook Community.

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