Imagine the unimaginable. You need brain surgery, and you are looking for someone to perform that sensitive, overwhelming procedure on you. Would you say, “I’m okay with the doctor who got a B- in medical school.” Or would you be looking for someone who is world-class?

The reality is that you would look for someone who is world-class. World-class people are above others – they are exceptional in what they do and how they do it. In order to be world-class, it requires practice, discipline, and an investment to be the best that you can be.

As a manager, leader, or business owner, do you want to be world-class? Here are seven things required to be a world-class boss.

1. Treat hiring as seriously as world-class athletes treat their workouts.

World-class bosses treat hiring as seriously as world-class athletes treat their practices. World-class bosses hire very carefully. They look for the character, competency, and traits that will make a person a good fit for the chemistry of the team. And by putting that extra time into hiring, that world-class boss is going to bring someone onto the team who will raise the level of performance for themselves and everyone around them.

2. Become known for delegation and coaching more than command and control.

World-class bosses invest heavily in coaching and guiding employees rather than just telling them what to do and trying to control them. Look, no one likes to be told what to do. When you hire the right person, as previously mentioned, they need to be coached and guided, but they don’t need to be controlled. Let your employees do their job and give them opportunities. Your job as a world-class boss is to come alongside them and coach them up to the highest level of performance.

3. Create a staff culture where many employees “want in” and few “want out.”

World-class bosses create a culture where more people want to get into the organization than want out. If you look at the countries around the world, those that are most desirable are the ones that people are trying to live in, not the ones that people are trying to get out of. And the way you attract employees is by culture. When a positive culture is created, it becomes contagious. It attracts the best talent possible because people tell people who tell people what it’s like to work in such a world-class place.

4. Let your team know what is expected and give them regular feedback.

World-class bosses provide regular and clear expectations and feedback to their team members. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard employees from other organizations say, “I don’t know what’s expected from me. I don’t even know how I’m doing. I’m never given feedback.” World-class bosses know that people need feedback and need to know what is expected of them. When they do, a higher level of performance will likely be present.

5. Seek input from your team regarding decisions, changes, and your leadership effectiveness.

World-class bosses seek input. They like to have input from their team members because, remember, they hired great team members whom they can solicit for feedback, input, and guidance on decisions. When employees are treated with that level of investment and respect, they want to take ownership of the goals and vision, and they want to be major contributors to the success of the organization because the world-class boss included them.

6. Model character, including humility, truthfulness, and ownership when you fail.

World-class bosses are not perfect. But they live and lead with character and humility, and they make themselves vulnerable to their team. Employees value vulnerability. It helps them realize that they can trust the person they are working for – they are believable, they tell the truth, and they do what they say. World-class bosses don’t have to be perfect, but they have to be known for their character and their integrity.

7. Show appreciation to your team by saying “thank you!” and celebrating wins.

World-class bosses show appreciation for the contributions of their team. They celebrate the wins. They say thank you. I’ll never forget a business owner I worked with who always affirmed that their success was because of the team behind them that helped them create that success. This boss showed such appreciation, celebration, and generosity to their team members because they knew they didn’t do it alone.

These are just seven things that a world-class boss does. If you lead people, you don’t want to be a B- leader. You don’t want to be an average leader. You want to be known as someone who is above and beyond others, someone who is world-class.

To learn more about how our team can assist you in becoming a world-class boss, contact us.

Jay Desko is the President & CEO of The Center Consulting Group and brings experience in the areas of organizational assessment, leadership coaching, decision-making, and strategic questioning. Jay’s degrees include an M.Ed. in Instructional Systems Design from Pennsylvania State University and a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and Leadership from The Union Institute.

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