PPB October 2018

I f your boss shares credit when things go right, shoulders the blame when things go wrong, gives you the freedom and authority to do your work and even occasionally lets you make mistakes, count yourself lucky. You’ve got a great boss. It’s a fact that people leave their bosses, not their jobs. A 2017 Gallup poll indicated that 75 percent of workers who voluntarily left their jobs did so because of problems with their boss. In today’s tight job market, smart companies must ensure that bosses know how to effectively manage others, including treating them with respect, standing up for them, coaching them when needed, celebrating their successes and being mindful of how they balance work with the other parts of their lives. This summer PPB received more than 100 nominations in its annual search to find the best bosses in the promotional products industry. Read on to learn about the 15 selected and what they do to earn the admiration. BEN ADNER President Inkcups Direct reports: 6 Years managing others: 17 B en Adner started the Danvers, Massachusetts- based supplier from his basement in 2001. He grew it to a 26,000-square-foot warehouse and then to a global company with six offices in North America and seven others around the world selling Tagless® pad printers, specialty inkjet systems and supplies within the apparel, promotional products, industrial and retail markets. “Ben is adamant about not forgetting where we started,” says his nominator Jessica Makrinos, who has worked for the company for almost three years. She explains that even though Adner is the company owner, he makes a genuine effort to get to know every employee on a personal level by participating in all company activities—barbeques, yoga Tuesdays and even the gardening committee. He also makes himself as available as possible and never tries to separate himself from the rest of the team. “He encourages us to speak to him about anything and takes a great interest in any ideas or problems we may have. Additionally, Ben has motivated me to go back to school for my master’s degree and has even included it in my yearly objectives. Overall, Ben is always looking at ways to help the company, but he always has us on his mind as well.” What’s cool about Ben Although he’s is the owner of a global company, he remains grounded, approachable and finds the humor in things. And, he rarely misses yoga Tuesdays. His best boss At [his previous employer] Autoroll I worked for Bill Karlyn, who was a quintessential entrepreneur. His leadership style was to lead by example. He worked hard, took risks and cared about his people. I like to think I adopted his style. What managing others has taught him about himself As a leader and manager, I need to be mindful about how I show up to work each day and interact with our people. They are looking to me for guidance. Regardless of what I have going on personally, I need to show up to work positive, confident and ready to go. That is the Inkcups way. His best advice for other bosses You need to be a positive person, enthusiastic about your work and provide an environment where your people are challenged, personally and professionally, and where they can take risks. 15 Top Managers And The Employees Who Adore Them By Tina Berres Filipski Best Bosses Of 2018 | FEATURE | OCTOBER 2018 | 27