Just because a boss is nice, doesn’t mean he or she is any good. A tough, demanding manager will push you to do your best work.

Everyone wants a nice boss. And if a nice boss is one who respects me and my work, challenges me to get better and wants to see me grow as both a professional and a leader, then I’m for it too.

Just because you have a nice boss, doesn’t mean you have a good boss

But too many people look at a hard-charging boss and jump to the conclusion that he or she is a tyrant.

Here’s what these people don’t get: just because you have a nice boss, doesn’t mean you have a good boss.

Tesla boss Elon Musk is known for demanding results of his workers – and he gets them (Credit: Getty Images)

I’ve seen plenty of bosses who might talk the talk about demanding exceptional performance but, all too often, they just want employees to like them. What’s more, they want people to speak well of them, to be “friends” with them. This type of boss is afraid that if they set high performance targets and challenge their staff to meet and surpass them, their esteem will slip. As a result, they ease up on their expectations, sometimes without realising it. Not surprisingly, performance falters. 

These immensely successful bosses don’t care much about being liked

Some of the best leaders I’ve seen, whether in research or coaching, come to work with a razor-sharp focus on results. These immensely successful bosses don’t care much about being liked. Their expectations are both staggering and non-negotiable — and their teams know it.

Take, for example, US real estate guru Bill Sanders. “Everybody knew that Bill demanded results,” said Ronald Blankenship, former chairman and CEO of Verde Realty, a real estate investment trust and long-time associate of Sanders. “If you were going to work with him, you needed to be prepared to make that your primary focus.”

Not being afraid to lay down the law can actually generate more esteem among employees (Credit: Alamy)