When you look back at past bosses you respected, bosses that were okay and bosses, how can I say it, needing a significant reboot, what made them different?

I liked a boss that was honest with me. It seemed they knew when I messed up, it was unintentional. That doesn’t mean they overlooked my failures, but they were swift and precise in pointing them out. But they also knew enough to use the mistake as a learning opportunity. They would not always tell me what I did wrong but took me through a process of self-discovering my error, and then they didn’t set out to fix or solve it; they allowed me to make my diagnosis and create a prescriptive path to correct things. Oh yes, it is easier to have someone else fix it or tell you how to fix it, but it is a more sustainable lesson when someone challenges you to figure it out yourself.

This honesty isn’t just about performance; it is also about knowing what they know and helping others understand what they know; this is knowledge transfer. Great bosses know that knowledge is power but only when knowledge is shared. A great boss and leader doesn’t use knowledge to look or act smart but to help everyone look and work smart
Also, honesty is about motive, being very clear about how the company, the customer, and the employee will benefit. Being very clear on the rationale helps all to have a reason to be fully engaged and to execute expertly. It’s not that people don’t want to do their best; it’s more about understanding the motive and benefit of expert execution; it sets the framework for performance.

Speaking of execution, great bosses and leaders communicate deadlines and milestones and then monitor progress on assignments. This activity is not micromanaging; it is about everyone knowing what is expected of them.
Also, great bosses and leaders are very transparent with their purpose. This level of honesty is a skill of not just telling the truth but in living the truth. A great boss knows every step, and their every move is seen as an example of how to act.

We know bosses are imperfect, so a quick and heartfelt mea culpa is essential when they misstep. Great leaders fess up to their faults, apologize and learn from them.Great bosses and great leaders have one thing in common, honesty. They are honest with themselves and with others; it’s is never about perfection.