The book ‘Good Boss, Bad Boss’ illustrates the characteristics of good bosses and advises readers how to become a good boss. The book starts with the mindset of good bosses. He argues that the mindset of a great boss should have the following key characteristics:

– Constantly think about themselves

– Got grit

– Focus on small wins

– Beware the Toxic Tandem

– Got their employee’s backs

It follows how to become a successful and good boss. To become  a successful boss, he gives the following advice:

– Take control

– Strive to be wise

– Select and breed employees who bring out the best in others

– Link talk and action

– Serve as a human shield

– Don’t shirk the dirty work

– Squelch your inner bosshole

The author says that these are the key success factors to become a successful boss.

There are two questions that I would like to consider together.

1) These are quite generic arguments. These are not magic pills that can turn some bad boss into good boss. To achieve this, you need to change yourself as well as find a way to achieve them. Especially, for those that aim to improve interaction between the boss and employees, how can bosses achieve this? by careful observation on employees? by empathy? by more communication (involving more private matters between them)?

2) Good bosses are financially beneficial (or beneficial in some success metrics) to companies? If so, how? When is the case if not? For example, if a general is not bossy enough in the military and not intentionally overly aggressive, he or she would not be able to control their group effectively in certain situations. In finance industry, masculine men can be found easily because the attitude expedites decision process. If this is generally true, would being good bosses have positive impacts on the performance of companies?

— Travis