PPB October 2017

His best boss My best boss would be Rod Sinner, whom I worked with for about 10 years. He was really an ideal boss for me because he gave me the tools I needed but the freedom to run with new ideas. He supported me as needed and took interest in me as a person and not just as an employee. We worked hard, but he created a fun working environment where people didn’t mind the extra effort because the expectations were known by everyone. It was a team environment, which wasn’t common at that time at our company. What managing others has taught him about himself I have learned patience. Nobody works well under stress and more mistakes happen when there is too much pressure. When issues do pop up you realize you cannot change what happened but can correct issues so these events will not happen again. His best advice for other bosses No one management style is a perfect fit for everybody in the office. I try to quickly learn what each team member needs in order to feel comfortable in their jobs. It’s important to communicate with your staff what their job roles are and give each member an opportunity for growth. I believe employees like to see where their value is with the organization and where their set of skills could take them. If employees need to develop in certain areas of interest, help them put a plan in place to allow them an opportunity to enhance their potential. I really think you have to communicate with your staff a lot and make sure everyone gets the same message. If your team embraces the plan, success is much more likely to occur. We are a small company and I really like that we have a family feel to the office. I have a great staff and really look forward to helping them succeed wherever their careers take them. Steve Brown General Manager Ads On Magnets Castle Rock, Colorado Number of direct reports: 5 S teve Brown runs a young and thriving supplier company that he launched in 2012. Coming from a previous career in county government and information technology, he’s managed others for about 15 years. Now that he has five employees, he strives to create an environment where employees are involved and engaged in the company’s future. “Steve is a very down-to-earth boss who likes to keep a balance of work and fun daily,” says nominator Julia Moerman, office manager and sales coordinator at Ads On Magnets. “He always brings us in on what is going on in the company and the direction we are looking to take, and asks for suggestions on what we think and see for the company.” She also likes the fact that he’s interested in employees’ lives beyond the office, including asking about their families and pets. “He is also very flexible, so if we need a day off or something comes up unexpectedly, he works with us to make sure everything gets done,” she adds. Nominator Kayley Brown has worked at the company since it opened. She says, “Steve does weekly meetings in which he communicates what is going on in the company, both good and bad, and allows everyone to give their input on what is going well and not so well on their end. He also has stepped back from checking the sales email to allow employees to manage it. People are feeling more empowered because of it.” Steve’s cool factor He’s a manager and a friend; sometimes this combination can be difficult, but Steve does it very well. From left are Anton Romanov, Melissa Cannon, Mike Horvat, Steve Brown, Kayley Brown and Julia Moerman, with the office dogs, Lucy and Java. Best Bosses | FEATURE | OCTOBER 2017 | 27