The good boss: Siouxland leaders share what works at work

Studies show bad bosses drive burnout and decrease job satisfaction while an effective leader is more likely to have a team of engaged employees who are enthusiastic and committed to their work.

Siouxland Life asked local leaders to share what makes someone a good boss, what steps they take to foster a positive work environment and what lessons they’ve learned. Here’s what they had to say.

COMMUNICATION

“Since we spend more time with our co-workers than our families, we need to enjoy each other and build a team spirit that will continue to inspire the good work we do. To have a successful work environment, I feel that our team needs to care and support one another just like our family members. First and foremost is clear communication. We must be able to talk with one another if we are to be a successful team. The challenge has been the ever-changing way in which the younger employees communicate. Email and texting are the norm for them, but sometimes a phone call or getting up from your desk to go over and have a discussion makes for better understanding. Sitting across from someone tends to lead to better team morale, better efficiency and higher levels of success than if we only communicated electronically.” —Brian Crichton, CEO and president of Cannon Moss Brygger Architects

CELEBRATION

“I want to create a happy, healthy place to work. It’s my job to help ensure we work hard as a team and enjoy our jobs. At the firm, we celebrate accomplishments, both big and small. Whether we just won a multi-million dollar case, a team member’s kid graduated or a new employee completely rocked his or her first project, we celebrate it. Each week, every employee shares weekly accomplishments and sets goals for the following week. This gives me the time to offer praise and encouragement. In the legal industry, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of court hearings and tight deadlines. It’s important that we don’t forget to have fun and celebrate life’s moments. We put life first, then work. We have numerous company parties throughout the year where we get together outside of the office and include our families. We give back to our community as a team, and we invest in our team by sending them to national conferences and providing them membership and time to get involved in professional organizations. These incentives provide my team time they need to take care of our clients while making sure that we are at our best.” —Jeana Goosmann, CEO, founder and managing partner of Goosmann Law Firm

MOTIVATION

“I try to only ask of people what I myself am willing to do. If decisions are based on fairness and put the best interest of the employee and the company at the center, it should always be a win-win. Employees want an empathetic ear and want you to understand what their obstacles are. As a good manager, it's important to listen and always look for a productive solution. I have had a couple of great bosses. They have always treated me like my ideas were important and empowered me to be creative. Knowing your boss believes in you is one of the biggest motivational drivers. What's effective leadership varies from employee to employee. Personalities play a huge role and have to be taken into consideration when dealing with people. Some employees respond well to positive re-enforcement while others want a tougher, blunter approach. Again, having clear expectations and remembering people are human goes a long way when needing employees to rally.” —Stacia Lenz, chief operating officer of Aventure Staffing

OBSERVATION

“In my role with the Chamber, I am afforded the opportunity to observe the example set by some of the very best business executives, managers and leaders throughout Siouxland. As an adolescent, my parents encouraged me to pay close attention to the actions of others and draw conclusions about which of their activities led to success and which led to failure. Watching others succeed or fail provided some very powerful lessons for me in my formative years. As a result, I have grown to have the utmost respect for those men and women who lead by example, emphasize both personal and professional integrity and demonstrate a strong work ethic. I also admire those leaders who genuinely care for the well-being of their employees and take the occasion to publicly recognize their contributions.” —Chris McGowan, president of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce

*Responses have been edited for length and clarity.