Adam Bryant's latest piece in The New York Times on Google's Quest to Build a Better Boss is well worth reading. It goes into detail on what Google has found to be the 8 rules to being a good boss – in priority order.
- Image via Wikipedia
While we're all new leaders all the time, it's still worth considering those 8 rules in the light of a boss onboarding a new employee:
1 Be a good coach
There's no question that new employees need coaching on how to assimilate in and accelerate their progress. Their first, best coach is their boss. Job #1 for any boss, and especially the boss of a new employee is to coach with specific, constructive feedback on a one-on-one basis.
2 Empower your team and don't micromanage
Try as you might as the boss of a new employee, you can't make them successful. All you can do is inspire and enable them to their absolute best. Define their sandbox. Coach them. Push them to push the edges. Then, step back and let them succeed.
3 Express interest in team members' success and personal well-being
We all want to be treated with respect. This is golden rule time. Treat your new employees as you would want them to treat you. Welcome them – and their families.
4 Don't be a sissy; be productive and results-oriented.
This is especially true with new employees. Show them the way. Give them clear direction on what they need to get done and how. Then leverage your experience, know-how and connections, acting like a stage manager to set them up for success in their new starring roles.
5 Be a good communicator and listen to your team
Everything communicates – especially during a new employee's early days. Make sure you are listening carefully, and listening for the non-verbal cues. Have conversations, not talks.
6 Help your employees with career development
What. So what. Now what. Even before day one, explain to your new employees what they need to do, why they need to do it, and how doing it well will benefit them and their careers – over time.
7 Have a clear vision and strategy for the team
Mission is what you're asked to do. Vision is your own picture of success. So, as a boss, you own your employees' missions. Be crystal clear on the what – what you're asking them to accomplish. Help them understand how their individual missions fit into the bigger picture. Then, let them develop the how.
8 Have key technical skills so you can help advise the team
This is not to suggest that you should pretend to be anything you're not, or pretend to know anything you don't know. This goes back to everything communicates and the need to demonstrate your talent, knowledge and skills to help new employees and not just talk about them.
