Whether we like it or not, our boss has a significant influence on the enjoyment of our job.
And the extent to which your boss actually cares about you as a person plays a major role in whether or not you have a good relationship with them.
To that end, this article is going to unpack the most common signs your boss cares about you.
Let’s get started.
1. They Ask About Your Personal Life
To me, the number one sign that your boss cares about you is that they take an interest in your personal life.
Now, there’s a delicate balance on this one and a level of professionalism to maintain but, to me, a boss that cares about you should know you beyond just what you produce at work.
The bosses that I’ve had the best relationship with know my wife’s name, they know my kid’s names, and they know about my hobbies and interests. And not only that, they ask me about them, encourage me in them, and support me in them.
The managers that have been more of the toxic side had no idea my wife or kids name’s and I felt really only cared me to the extent that I put up the numbers that they wanted me to.
2. They Give You Recognition and Gratitude
Another one of the signs your boss cares about you is that they make a point of giving your recognition and gratitude.
They could do things like going out of their way to praise you publicly, volunteering your name for a company award, or recognizing you in some other way.
Great leaders encourage the heart and, again, don’t just treat you as a robot that is there to deliver them the numbers that they want.
Public and positive praise is also one of the strongest signs that your boss wants you to stay.
3. They Invest In Your Development
A boss that cares about you is going to want you to be a great employee in the short and long term. They’ll want to develop your skills while you’re working for them and beyond.
To that extend, a great boss is going to invest in your development. They’ll give you stretch assignments to build new skills. They’ll send you to classes and seminars to teach you new things.
Basically, they’ll want to help you develop the skills to get you to where you need to go.
4. They Make You Feel Valued
All of my best bosses, and the ones that I feel have cared about me the most, have always made me feel valued. Both personally and professionally.
There are a variety of different ways that a boss can do that, some of which have already been mentioned in this list (i.e., giving recognition and investing in your development) but, however it’s done, a boss that cares about you will make you feel that you are a values member of the organization.
5. They Respect Boundaries and Provide Good Work/Life Balance
Another one of the important signs your boss cares about you is that they respect personal and professional boundaries and provide good work/life balance.
Good bosses know that there is more to life than work. And, if they care about you, they’ll enable good balance and respect boundaries between your personal and professional life.
Bosses that don’t care about you will only respect boundaries to the extent that you’re still able to give them what they want.
6. They Listen to Your Opinions
An important way to show anyone in any context that you care about them is to listen to them.
And that’s no different in the workplace.
A boss that cares about you is going to genuinely listen to your opinions and feedback and incorporate them where appropriate.
7. They Mentor You
The bosses that I’ve had that have cared about me the most have gone out of their way to mentor me.
If I messed something up in a meeting, they’ve pulled me aside to coach me.
After I’ve left the company, they’ve still made time to meet with me for happy hour to answer career and mentorship questions.
They’ve genuinely cared and invested in me personally and professionally, even at their own inconvenience.
So, a boss that invests in you as a mentor is someone that definitely cares about you.
Curious if you have a mentorship type relationship with your boss? Or if your boss is a good mentor? This video from Karie Kauffman does a great job of breaking down the qualities of a good mentor:
Conclusion
Having a boss that cares you makes a huge difference in your enjoyment of your work and career.
And, to be honest, it’s in your best interest to do your best to find a great boss that cares about you.
So if you have a boss that exudes many of the above signs your boss cares about you, you’re in a great spot and you want to cherish that relationship for as long as you can.
On the other hand, if you have a boss that does not, you may want to consider finding yourself a better manager.
