When you think about the most important people in your life, you probably don't even consider your boss. But think again. Who has control over how many hours you spend at work? Who decides whether you will take on that exciting new project or not? Who determines your salary? And, ultimately, who are you most likely to complain about?
Having a bad boss is known to be a leading cause of stress, sometimes even causing illness, while a good boss can inspire greatness and motivate you to achieve. Cary Cooper, professor of organisational psychology and health at Lancaster University management school, says: "Management style is critical. I would attack that as the main factor in workplace stress."
So what makes a good boss? A recent survey undertaken by online bank first direct asked workers across all fields and industries what they thought were the most valuable qualities in a manager. Topping the list was approachability, with 83% of those surveyed saying that this was important. In second place was being a good communicator, with 82% of respondents citing it, while 81% of those questioned said that they wanted their boss to be supportive, 80% that they should be a good leader, and 76% that they should respect their staff as individuals.
We asked anyone lucky enough to work for someone who fulfils all these criteria to nominate their boss as the UK's best. Hundreds of you did just that, and after careful consideration, our judges – first direct head of marketing Paul Say and Professor Cooper – have selected a shortlist of three.
All entrants were awarded scores for leadership, inspiration, impact, creativity and temperament, but, as Cooper says: "It's really about being a human being. You have to be a good person to inspire someone to make the effort to nominate you."
Nominations were extremely heartfelt. Anna Key, who nominated her boss Gaynor Coley, managing director of Cornwall's Eden Project, says: "Her support makes a difference to many staff who have suffered ill health, bereavement and family difficulties."
Jon Hanna, who put forward Kath Franklyn, small-school head (Grace School) at Evelyn Grace academy in Brixton, states: "One of the many reasons I would like to nominate Kath is that she rarely, if ever, takes any credit for herself for the great work she does."
Katie Elliott, who works with Gill Mortlock, director of offender management for the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) in the West Midlands, says: "Gill is always even-tempered with everyone. She listens and genuinely consults."
Overall, the quality of entrants was high. However, although the 30-strong longlist saw an equal male/female split, all three of those selected as finalists – Key, Franklin and Mortlock – are female. Cooper says: "Women are very skilled at managing relationships."
Entrants were also more likely to come from the voluntary or public sectors than the private sector, and many are employed at high levels of management, reflecting the fact that being senior doesn't have to mean being unapproachable.
Cooper says: "I was looking for someone who manages by praise and reward, leads by example and has a high level of engagement with their staff."
Say also highlights the importance of praise in relation to leadership. "It's a true leader who can tread the fine line between challenge and support," he says, citing this as a reason for selecting Franklyn as a finalist.
He adds that "Mortlock stands out from the crowd for her inspirational leadership skills", while "Coley impressed us with her dedication to her people."
Ultimately, however, "The winner really jumped off the page." Click here to find out who that winner is, walking away with £1,000 worth of Virgin vouchers – ideal for putting towards a well-deserved holiday. Their nominator receives a Samsung Galaxy Tab, while the two runners-up win £150 in Virgin vouchers, all courtesy of first direct.
