Choose Your Boss Wisely

Working with amazing people is truly a blessing. As they say, you become the average of the five people you spend most of your time with. Considering that the average person spends 90,000 hours at work over their lifetime, having the right people around you can unlock your full potential. And the most important of those people? Your immediate boss.

A great boss can propel your career forward, inspire growth, and instill confidence. On the flip side, a wrong manager can dent your self-belief and leave you questioning your abilities.

Whatever I am today is just because I met some amazing people throughout my career. I've been fortunate to learn invaluable lessons from remarkable leaders like Gaurav Sonker , Co-Founder at Bid4Best Technologies , and Theo Nasser , CEO and Founder at Right-Hand Cybersecurity . Their leadership styles shaped my approach and taught me the power of mentorship.

But let’s be real, it’s hard to measure someone's leadership style during a job interview. That’s why asking the right questions is important to get an idea of what you might face in the future. Here are some insightful ones to help you assess whether your future boss will be a mentor or a micromanager:

1. Great leaders don’t have all the answers, they’re constantly learning from their teams. So ask them if they have learnt anything recently from their team. This question helps reveal if they value their team's expertise and foster a culture of learning. It will also reveal whether they believe in sharing credits and giving recognition.
2. Another thing, you want a boss who fights for resources, recognition, and growth opportunities. So always check, how they advocate their team's needs with the management. If they can’t articulate how they support their team, it might be a red flag.
3. Adaptability is important and it is very unique character of of great leaders. Harvard Business Review even links it to higher team performance and innovation. So ask them what changes have they made recently. According to McKinsey, improving operational processes can boost productivity by 30%. Great leaders proactively find ways to make work smoother and more enjoyable.
4. It's true, recognition matters a lot, that too consistently. Gallup's research shows that acknowledging team achievements increases employee engagement by 25%. If your potential boss doesn’t prioritize recognition, that’s something to rethink about.
5. Humilty vs Ego. Leaders who admit their mistakes earn trust and loyalty. A study by USC highlights that this vulnerability fosters stronger team relationships. So ask them when was the last time they went wrong and accepted it in front of team.
6. Employees who feel supported in their career development are 20% more likely to stay with a company. A good boss invests in your growth. So check, how do they ensure that everyone feels motivated and feels that they are growing. (And if their answer is just adding Sr. to a title, that's a red flag)

Deloitte's research shows that companies prioritizing well-being see a 56% improvement in performance metrics. A manager who understands this balance is worth their weight in gold.

Basically, you need to understand that you’re not just choosing a job, you’re choosing a boss. So choose wisely. Ask the right questions, trust your gut, and find someone who will inspire you to grow and thrive. Because with the right people around you, there’s no limit to what you can achieve.

What are some questions you swear by when choosing your next boss?