WORK

Half the US workforce does! iTALK finds out why, and helps you cope with the syndrome, whether you are in the chief's chair or the subordinate's

An online survey by US-based staffing company Randstad, has revealed that less than 30% of the country's employees believe their bosses were fulfilling their roles as motivators or mentors, just 43% think their boss was open to new ideas and only 47% were willing to work overtime to impress their chief. Do you feel ditto, or fear that your team could be party to these findings? We come to your rescue.

How to be the best boss in the world

This web guide by American training expert Christine W Zust, will help you be the best Big B around:
Earn it: Respect is given to others only when they are deemed worthy of receiving the honour.
Walk the talk: Set a positive example for others to follow.
Influence, don't manipulate: Manipulation uses and abuses others to act out your intentions. Influence, on the other hand, requires agreement on the part of the person being influenced and a willingness to support your goals.
Include: Turn me into we. Rather than couching your comments with "I think... I know... I feel..." which puts the emphasis on you, consider using inclusive language, such as "We can review...our challenge is..."
Participate equally: If you hold yourself above everyone else, you will be seen as egotistical and self-serving.
Back opinions with facts: If you share your opinions with no factual back-up, you will be perceived as a rambler. Support opinion with solid rationale.

Don't be jealous of your boss

>>For starters, accept the fact that he/she is your boss, and being OTT rebellious is unreasonable.
>>Identifying one good quality in him/her, is a good daily exercise. It will lead to greater respect.
>>Put yourself in your boss' shoes. Would you want your subordinates to feel this way about you/misbehave/ make life hell?
>>Forgive your boss for occasional fits of fury, just as you'd forgive yourself.
>>You might believe you're more skilled and competent than your boss, but let your work do the talking.

A good boss needs to ignite passion

Lavleen Raheja, Chairman and CEO, FranklinCovey Foundation for Leadership, South Asia
If employees believe they don't have the right leadership, it can be a serious cause for demotivation. In most cases, leaders tend to fail not because of their character, but because they are not as competent as they should be. Here, it is important that HR officials explain to managers the importance of igniting passion among team members.

Case study

He likes walking into a junior's room, rather than summoning him

Who: Prasoon Joshi, Chairman (Asia Pacific), McCann-Erickson
Past record: Ten years at Ogilvy & Mather, more than 200 advertising awards, lyricist for B-town blockbusters like Rang De Basanti and Taare Zameen Par.
How he rates himself as a boss: "I am a hands-on boss, not one of those straight-jacketed chiefs. It is not difficult for my staff to approach me. I am informal and often walk into colleagues' rooms to get updates, rather than summon them."
How he balances informal atmosphere and discipline: "There's no point being authoritative if no one truly respects you. So, I take the informal route, and focus on creativity and productivity, instead."
Mantra of dealing with disrespectful juniors: "Try and understand why they are behaving a certain way. If something is fundamentally wrong, address the issue rather than ignore it. If the employee is being malicious without a genuine reason, get rid of him."

What the Mid Day poll revealed

Do you think you are more competent than your boss?

35% yes
45% no
20% can't say

Do you respect your manager?

80% yes
20% no