Well, back at it...

It's Sunday as I write this--meaning that, come tomorrow, it's back to five more days of the workaday grind. (Of course, since I'm writing this on a Sunday, that means in my case..ah, skip it.)

What that means to one person will differ radically from another--largely due to the person for whom you work. If yours is a boss who does what he can to make your job engaging and challenging, you may actually look forward to the buzz of the alarm clock come tomorrow a.m.

But, if yours is--as they once quipped on "The Simpsons"--the devil's cabana boy, anticipation quickly melts into a low level dread--anticipation of just what your lord and master will do this week to make your paycheck a deal paid for with drudgery and, as often as not, mistreatment, whether by design or unintentionally.

That begs the question: what goes into making a good employer? If that's the position you're in and you're on the lookout for ways to improve your game, here are a few fast suggestions:

* Be inclusive. Solicit feedback and input from your people and genuinely consider it (read: don't treat it as lip service.)

*Remember, the people who work for you have careers, also. If employees are looking to move up in the ranks, nurture that desire. Tell them what they need to do to improve.

* Coach as well as lead. The prior suggestion segues into the importance of coaching your people. Don't just tell them what to do--show why it's important and how their contributions matter.

* Keep working at your own skills. Even the most accomplished boss on the planet is a work in progress . Stay on top of ways you can make your workplace an environment of consistent improvement--both for you and others.

Jeff