Be a Good Undercover Boss – Do The Opposite of These 7 Things

In the popular TV reality show, Undercover Boss, a high-level executive uses a disguise and goes to work with front line employees. The executive is looking for inside information about the company culture, systems, and employee performance through first hand interactions with employees…anonymously.

While undercover, many bosses face the struggles employees face every day and it helps them realize the weaknesses in the company culture. They take a look in the mirror and decide that it’s time to make a change.

Then you have the stubborn bosses who refuse to see the problems and go on their merry way continuing to be a bad boss.

Just for fun, let’s go ahead and list all the things a boss shouldn’t do:

Review the following list to see if you would make a good undercover boss.

1. Stay in your office with the door closed and don’t interact with employees face to face.
2. If you do speak with employees, focus on tasks to be completed and avoid any interest in them as people.
3. Better yet, send emails instead of face to face conversations. USE ALL CAPS for added emphasis.
4. Implement change without considering the employee’s perspective. The employee who does the job day-in and day-out.
5. Make loose expectations. Expect the best results.
6. Expect utmost respect and give no respect in return.
7. Embrace the mantra, “Do as I say, not as I do”.

Now that we got that over with, do the opposite and be a good boss who takes a genuine interest in your employees. Be visible, interact with your employees and learn what’s important to them. Most of all be a boss that cares.

If you’d like to improve your leadership skills and connection with your employees so you don’t end up doing it on live television in Undercover Boss, just give us a call or send us an email.

Workplace Conflict Expert Bonnie Artman Fox, MS, LMFT, works with executive leaders and team managers who want to stop divisive behaviors, resolve conflict, and build the team trust needed to create a healthy work culture.  Contact Bonnie to help your employees get along and bring teams together.