Eight Signs of a Fantastic Boss

With so many bad bosses out there, when you have a fantastic boss, you don't want to take your boss for granted. Most people know when they are fortunate enough to have a truly special boss.

Here are eight signs of an exceptional boss.

A good boss is positive, upbeat and enthusiastic about the company, its product or service, and everyone who works there.

A good boss makes sure you have the resources you need to get the job done.

A good boss doesn’t micromanage; he or she gives you guidance and trusts you to do your work well.

When there’s a problem, a good boss is into solving it, not into spreading blame.

When you do a good job, a good boss lets you know in front of others whenever possible. When you’ve messed up, a good boss doesn't berate you in public, he or she analyzes what went wrong with you in private, and helps you set goals for improvement.

A good boss reviews your career goals with you periodically and offers training or other resources that could support your chosen path.

A good boss listens, takes your comments or ideas seriously and implements them when possible and always letting you know why when it’s not possible.

A good boss doesn’t play favorites. They are fair and impartial. A good boss is not your buddy and may not join the gang for "happy hour," but you always know where you stand.

Of course, the exact opposite of everything that makes a good boss good are found in the makeup of a bad boss. If you have a bad boss, don’t fake it and pretend everything is okay. It will just stroke your bad boss’s ego and make things worse. But, if you have a good boss, someone that has most (not necessarily all) of the above traits, thank your boss. Be specific about why you feel the way you do. It will make your boss realize that he or she is on the right track and will reinforce continued positive behavior.