What makes a great boss?

Let's talk about the ones who've lifted us up.

Let's talk about the ones who've lifted us up.

I'd like to think I'm a good boss. But that hasn't always been the case. Like many creatives in management, one day I just found myself in charge of people. And you have to learn quickly-often by making lots of mistakes. But hopefully, you've had a good boss or two to model yourself after.

‍

I had some amazing bosses who encouraged me, challenged me, weren't afraid to call me out when I was wrong and helped me be a better designer. As I sat down to write this post, I realized why they stood out.

‍

Here are my top 5 great boss characteristics (This list could be pages long, but it's a start.):

‍

  1. No ego

Early in my career, I had an art director who always listened to every idea. Even if she was the smartest person in the room, she never scoffed or looked down her nose at us. I still remind myself to check my ego at the door. I encourage my team to recognize the best idea and give that idea room to grow.

‍

  1. Patience

In my first graphic design job, we used Quark Xpress. Yes, I'm that old. Preparing projects for print involved complex processes and lots of troubleshooting. The creative director would provide his guidance but also lots of time to figure it out on my own. A designer with years of experience has built speed and efficiency into their practice. Watching novice designers work can be excruciating but you need to let them get there on their own.

‍

  1. Tough love

"Could it be better?", "Is this the best solution to this problem?" I can still hear my editor's voice in my head. Finding the right balance of challenging and encouraging isn't easy, but the ones who find it can build incredibly creative teams!

‍

  1. Celebrate successes

I briefly worked with an amazing creative group that always shared in the creative process. There were lots of awards and accolades. And the team lead always called out the team in their speeches. There were celebratory catered lunches and after-work drinks where we could all pat each other on the back for a job well done. It wasn't excessive-it was clearly a recognition of the hard work.

‍

  1. Keep it profesh

I've got lots of examples of bosses crossing a line. But there's one person who springs to mind who maintained a relaxed environment without breaking anyone's boundaries. He was great at small talk, disarming the team in moments of stress and somehow sharing very little about his personal life. He made the team feel like he always had your back, you were in a safe space to share your half-baked ideas and never had any awkward moments of how hard he partied over the weekend.

‍

Running a business and leading a team isn't easy, but it's been a long time since I had a boss to guide me through it. However, the influence of those exceptional bosses remains with me, shaping my approach to leadership. Their impact demonstrates that leadership isn't about control or power; it's about empowering others and creating an environment where they can thrive. These bosses didn't just teach me how to manage; they showed me what it means to lead. I'm grateful for each of them.

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

What makes a great boss?

Let's talk about the ones who've lifted us up.

Let's talk about the ones who've lifted us up.

I'd like to think I'm a good boss. But that hasn't always been the case. Like many creatives in management, one day I just found myself in charge of people. And you have to learn quickly-often by making lots of mistakes. But hopefully, you've had a good boss or two to model yourself after.

‍

I had some amazing bosses who encouraged me, challenged me, weren't afraid to call me out when I was wrong and helped me be a better designer. As I sat down to write this post, I realized why they stood out.

‍

Here are my top 5 great boss characteristics (This list could be pages long, but it's a start.):

‍

  1. No ego

Early in my career, I had an art director who always listened to every idea. Even if she was the smartest person in the room, she never scoffed or looked down her nose at us. I still remind myself to check my ego at the door. I encourage my team to recognize the best idea and give that idea room to grow.

‍

  1. Patience

In my first graphic design job, we used Quark Xpress. Yes, I'm that old. Preparing projects for print involved complex processes and lots of troubleshooting. The creative director would provide his guidance but also lots of time to figure it out on my own. A designer with years of experience has built speed and efficiency into their practice. Watching novice designers work can be excruciating but you need to let them get there on their own.

‍

  1. Tough love

"Could it be better?", "Is this the best solution to this problem?" I can still hear my editor's voice in my head. Finding the right balance of challenging and encouraging isn't easy, but the ones who find it can build incredibly creative teams!

‍

  1. Celebrate successes

I briefly worked with an amazing creative group that always shared in the creative process. There were lots of awards and accolades. And the team lead always called out the team in their speeches. There were celebratory catered lunches and after-work drinks where we could all pat each other on the back for a job well done. It wasn't excessive-it was clearly a recognition of the hard work.

‍

  1. Keep it profesh

I've got lots of examples of bosses crossing a line. But there's one person who springs to mind who maintained a relaxed environment without breaking anyone's boundaries. He was great at small talk, disarming the team in moments of stress and somehow sharing very little about his personal life. He made the team feel like he always had your back, you were in a safe space to share your half-baked ideas and never had any awkward moments of how hard he partied over the weekend.

‍

Running a business and leading a team isn't easy, but it's been a long time since I had a boss to guide me through it. However, the influence of those exceptional bosses remains with me, shaping my approach to leadership. Their impact demonstrates that leadership isn't about control or power; it's about empowering others and creating an environment where they can thrive. These bosses didn't just teach me how to manage; they showed me what it means to lead. I'm grateful for each of them.

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

See More >