Have you read “Bossypants” by Tina Fey? It’s a laugh-out-loud memoir of her life up to, and including, many of her comedic accomplishments; writing supervisor on Saturday Night Live and the star and producer of 30 Rock. The book is full of anecdotes and observations and while most of her stories center on climbing her way to the top of the comedy ladder, she does make a statement early on in the book on what it means to be a good manager.
The book’s title comes from the same question over and over along her journey: “What’s it like to be in charge?” A subject she gets surprisingly serious about. “In most cases being a good boss means hiring talented people and then getting out of their way,” she says with genuine humility and a twinge of wisdom.
She’s absolutely right. There is nothing funny about being micromanaged and second guessed by a “Bossypants” manager. In fact it’s downright demotivating. There is a direct connection between those managers who are comfortable allowing their employees to go about their work and the positive results that follow. If more managers knew that we’d all be better off.
Want to be a better manager? Stop being a “Bossypants”! Instead recognize and encourage your employees. Set goals and then reward employees for their creativity in meeting objectives. Celebrate their methods as much as you do their results and watch the numbers add up.