What are traits of a good leader?
How does one pick a good boss to work under as working under a good boss is most important decision for ones career?
What are some visible red flags one should be wary of?
"Doesn't want to be a leader", has to be the starting point. :D
I have the same bosses from last N years. They are good people, care about the employees, reward and recognize and are usually calm, less political, humble and polite. They have supported most of what I do at work and allowed me to prosper and take on newer work and roles as long as I am delivering on their pieces.
Have really grown under them and that's the main reason for me not changing my job.
I guess I do look at my friends and how bad they have. Here is my list of red flags
- Super political
- Incompetence. That transfers from boss to team
- Assholes who don't care about you, only about work getting done and their ass
- Mercenaries. People who change company every odd year or more. They are only there for the tag and the pay and always looking to get a better gig some place else
The best of people I worked with (some of them geniuses)
- Guides you to be successful in your work
- You learn from them everyday
- Genuinely cares for you and emphatetic to your personal situations
- You are comfortable to take any risks
- You are inspired. You want to be mimic them when you become a leader
The best of all (my boss), solve any problem (in any unrelated tech), just by asking 4 followup question. On similar lines, in your interview, is the interviewer able to ask followup questions in your own project( you being the sme) and get you thinking?
Red flags :
- Presents himself to be genius at every talk
- My way or high way... I did it like this when I was a kid so this is the only way
- Micromanage
- Brings you down for every mistake in front of others
- Never helps you ( because they can't)
- Doesn't let you bend your mind, fail and learn