7 qualities every boss should have to encourage a better work culture

We all share a love-hate relationship with our managers.

We do not admire everything about them and always brood over how we would behave differently if we were in their shoes.

In fact, we all have a list of opinions ready on how they can manage their work more efficiently and make our professional lives better, right?

We asked seven professionals from different fields to share the one trait they wish their boss had or develops in the coming time.

Here’s what they had to say.

1. Stop being diplomatic always
“My manager has this habit of being super sweet and diplomatic with every member of the team. She tries to be always politically correct to please everyone. But at the end of the day, she does not take a stand about what is right or wrong, and loves to manipulate the team members. I wish she were a straightforward and no-nonsense person. It would make the environment much more professional and ethical.”

2. Be an example for everyone
“My team leader burdens the entire team with new assignments (even the ones he is expected to do) and spends his day enjoying coffee breaks, gossiping and surfing the net. It irritates me big time. He then brags about how he works and how everyone should follow his footsteps. A good manager sets an example for his team with his own work and does not take the entire credit. I wish I could convey this to him somehow.”

3. Be considerate and supportive
“I was really unwell once, and requested my manager to approve my pending work so that I can leave early. She deliberately took hours to give her approval (that just required ten minutes) and made me stay for the entire day. Such instances have happened with others in the past as well. I wish she becomes little considerate for her team members. Employees perform better under an empathetic manager and gives their full support when they are required to.”

4. Understand that I have a personal life as well
“My boss frowns if I leave office on time. Even if I complete my work, he expects me to stay in office beyond working hours. I have tried explaining several times that I have a family life as well and there is a thing called ‘work-life balance’ but he never budges. He does not understand that spending extra hours in office does not always mean that the employee is working hard and performing well.”

5. Act like a leader
“I wish my senior would act like a true leader—take stand for his team when things are going wrong, guide us rather than ridiculing and look for solutions than cribbing about problems. Is it too much to expect from him? I wish I could change his pessimistic and arrogant attitude.”

6. Stop panicking every now and then
“My team leader panics whenever the work pressure increases. She then passes on the pressure to her juniors and the environment becomes really stressful. I wish she maintains her calm in testing situations and motivates everyone to give it their best shot.”

7. Stop hampering my confidence
“The words ‘constructive criticism’ does not exist in my manager’s dictionary, and she loves pin-pointing everyone’s mistakes for no good reason. By doing so, she hampers our confidence and many of our teammates have lost faith in their own abilities. A few have even resigned because of her attitude. I wish she would learn to appreciate our work and encourage us when we deserve it.”