Let’s Talk About Good Bosses: 3 Qualities that Define Great Managers
In honor of National Boss’ Day, let’s talk about good bosses. Firstly, by no means is this a guide to good management (we’re not people managers) and we’re not getting “extra credit” for writing this. Rather, we want to share our experiences with our own bosses and more specifically, what we feel makes them good leaders.
1. They set clear expectations.
“I know what I need to be working on.”
“I know exactly what success looks like in this position.”
Every day we show up (or should we say open our laptops) and feel confident we can say each of these statements knowing there’s truth behind them. We both joined Juno early in our careers, and might we add, during the new post-COVID reality. The migration from 12+ years of formal education to a corporate role is no doubt a change of pace from listed assignments and exams. Easing this transition was our managers, understanding the difficulty of change, and meeting our early-career trepidation with clear expectations. It sounds simple, and perhaps if we were people managers, we’d tell you it was but know it’s a skill that takes time to master. Why is this important? It takes the guesswork out of work. This does not mean we lose creative freedom, and it doesn’t mean new ideas aren’t welcome. The difference here is we know what success means. We know what a productive day looks like, and what it doesn’t; and our self-reflection is only enhanced when provided with clear deadlines and standards. I’m not wondering if I’ve done enough – We know…or it’s communicated directly.
2. They care about who we are as people, not just as employees.
S*** happens; life happens. That’s just how it is. But isn’t it so much easier to show up and give 150% when those 5% days or sick days are met with empathy, rather than scrutiny. As the saying goes, “the only constant is change,” and having a leader who understands and honors our personal lives and commitments shows they value who we are more than the amount we bill. It’s a business, let’s not forget that, but the stress of balancing work and life is greatly decreased when we know we’ll be respected and cared for regardless of circumstance…and believe it or not, it actually encourages productivity.
The “care about us as people” part is crucial – and so is caring about our professional growth. Our managers go up to bat for us. We’re always advocates of advocating for yourself – but how much easier is this when you know your manager will support you? Here’s a hint: a lot. We’re encouraged by Juno as a whole, and specifically our direct supervisors, to take on challenges and opportunities that grow our skill sets, whether it’s an internal training or joining a professional organization. These opportunities may pass us by if not for the support of managers who want to see us grow, and echo this to their leaders.
3. They’re not above any work.
As we alluded to previously, we both started at Juno early in our career…as did both of our direct managers. Part of the reason our partnership works with our leaders is purely out of similarity: they’ve been there, done that. While the world and culture around us changes, they remember their own experiences. Not to say it’s always healthy to dwell on the past but looking up to someone who knows exactly what we’re feeling or someone who has been in our same shoes provides a helpful perspective. It’s the “hey, I remember when that happened to me for the first time” that’s helpful to hear in both exciting and anxiety-inducing circumstances.
Tangentially, they take an all-hands-on deck approach. Not only have they done the job we do. They. Still. Do. And they don’t complain about it. Of course, their responsibilities have expanded, and the breakdown of the work looks a bit different, but when we need help, say sourcing on a role, or are running into challenges – they jump right in.
A good manager not only provides support and guidance but also continuously empowers their team to grow and succeed. They inspire us all to be our best and it's clear that great management makes a huge difference in someone's success and cultivates growth throughout the team. We are grateful for our management and the environment around us, and we are excited for what's next.
P.S. Happy National Boss’ Day to Jesse Harootunian & Samantha Silverberg! 😉
Meet the Authors
Neve Bonelli
Director, Admin & Legal
Savannah Gregory
Talent Manager, HR & Talent Acquisition
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