I normally don’t like to resort to name-calling on my blog, but today I want to tell you about a boss I had who was a complete bitch.

She was extremely vague about project parameters and deadlines. She disapproved whenever I took a day off. And she never, ever acknowledged my hard work.

The worst boss I ever had was…me!

I was a terrible boss to myself, much worse than any boss I’ve had in a corporate setting.

As a solo entrepreneur, I had to learn how to effectively manage my work habits without having someone standing over me wagging her finger. There’s no one around telling me what to do!

Even if you aren’t your own boss in your career, you ARE the boss of your life. It’s vital that you learn to manage yourself in and out of the office.

Here are some tips for being your own manager. Let’s go, bossypants!

Be Clear

A boss who gives her employees half-ass directions will get half-ass results. When you’re leading yourself to a goal, be as specific as possible about the outcomes you want and how things should be done.

For me, I need to write for 1 hour every morning before 8:00 am. Boom—specific.

Assign Deadlines

A task will take exactly as long as the amount of time you allot for it. Give yourself a deadline of 3 days, then you’ll take 3 days. Give yourself a deadline of an hour, and you’ll work your buns off to get it done in an hour.

If you don’t have a deadline, how can you expect to get the results you want?

Now as my own boss, I give myself deadlines that are just short enough to give me a sense of urgency but not so short that they give me a heart attack.

Take Time Off

To be an effective boss, you must model good behavior, and that means taking your vacation days.

A core component of my life coaching programs is putting yourself first and making self-care a high priority.

I take 1 day off plus 2 evenings off per week to do nothing but enjoy my family and free time. I also get away from it all during several vacations every year.

And you know what? My business (and life!) actually thrives when I allow myself to take breaks…and yours will too.

Celebrate Success

Any boss will tell you that success doesn’t fall out of the sky and land on your lap. It takes TONS of hard work and consistent action. That’s why successes need to be celebrated like the huge achievements they are.

Keep a notepad on your desk or work space and write down any successes you have during the day, big or small. Save all your daily success lists and read them once a month to see just how far you’ve come.

You’re amazing! You totally deserve a raise.

Are you a good boss? In the comments below, share your tips on how you manage yourself.

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