I’ve been a supervisor at several different jobs over the years. Yet, every time I start a new job as a supervisor, it feels like I’m being a boss for the first time.

Maybe it’s the new faces. Maybe it’s the new environment. Maybe it’s just me.

But whatever it is, I’ve learned one thing about being a boss. And I call it my golden rule of supervising: Be the boss you would want to have as a boss.

I’ve had every kind of boss imaginable: the softy pushovers, the hard-nosed micromanagers, the perfectionists and boss X.

And though I know there are many more types than these, here are just a few of those management types I’ve seen in my career.

The soft pushover:

This supervisor is usually very green and has little experience either in the field or as a boss. The pushover will ask for your opinion, but get angry when you give it. The pushover also will sometimes give their employees too much autonomy — sometimes to the point of lousy production. This supervisor type also is non-confrontational and often won’t tell you that you have a problem until the problem is way out of hand.

The hard-nosed micromanager:

I have a few other choice words for this type of manager, but this is a family newspaper, so I’ll keep them out of the column.

This supervisor will expect you to drop everything you’re doing to do what he asks, regardless of how important your current task is or how trivial the task he is asking you to do might be.

This manager is usually hated by all who work for him, but is able to get promoted by stepping on everybody’s toes and kissing his supervisor’s — ahem — feet.

The perfectionist:

This boss is similar to the micromanager in that it’s hard for him to give his employees autonomy to do the job on their own. Although his intentions are often good, he sometimes tends to irk his employees by constantly nudging them and standing over their shoulders.

All-in-all though, the perfectionist can be a very effective supervisor.

Boss X:

Boss X is the perfect boss, and the paradigm of what a boss should be. I’m not real sure there are too many of this type of supervisor out there, but this is what all bosses should strive to be.

Boss X is patient. Boss X is helpful, but also gives autonomy to his employees. Boss X knows how to keep his employees happy, and do it in ways that fit within the budget. If you’re lucky enough to have a Boss X, consider yourself blessed.

These are only a few of what I consider to be boss types. I don’t claim to have the answers on how to be a great boss or I would probably be teaching management classes at Harvard or Oxford.

And I’m sure many of you have your own definition of what a great boss would be. Regardless, to me, it all comes back to that one simple rule: Be the boss you would want to have as a boss.

Don Willis is managing editor of the Ironton Tribune. He can be reached at (740) 532-1445 or don.willis@ironton

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