How can I tell if a boss is worth working for?
By interviewing him just as he interviews you. The key is to determine compatibility—how well his interests and leadership style mesh with your goals and aspirations, says Michael Feiner, a professor of management at the Columbia Business School and author of The Feiner Points of Leadership. Feiner recommends asking your prospective boss three questions:
1 How do you measure success? If he’s not clear about his own methods for evaluating achievement, you’ll have no benchmark by which to judge your own progress.
2 How much time do you devote to feedback? “You want a boss who actively offers feedback, not only because he wants to meet his bottom line but because he’s committed to the success, future, and performance of his employees,” says Feiner.
3 Is there anything about your office culture that you would change? If he tells you he wouldn’t change a thing,
“it’s baloney,” says Feiner. There’s always room for improvement.
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