Defining the really great boss

What makes a great boss? Bosses don't become great because of their title, rank, degree of authority, office size, or benefits package.

Great bosses aren't even necessarily great managers.

Instead, they possess a set of core competencies that set them apart from mere managers.

The skill set of great bosses entails five qualities: they do the right thing for the right reason; they never make the same mistake twice; they set their personal expectations higher than those of their bosses; they go to their bosses with action plans, not problems; and they follow up. If a boss has only one of these characteristics, he or she is probably very successful.

But application of all five defines what it means to be a great boss, to be successful in good times and bad, through change and adversity, and to be recognized as such by the people you work for-as well as by the people who work for you.