To be a good boss?

What does it take to be a good boss? Offering better pay? Better perks in life? Better work-life balance? I think i have not offered better pay nor any of those things above. I am a Chinese (Asian) boss, akin to dragon mother. The term "dragon mother" has taken a whole new buzz, after Amy Chua (a very famous author, if you haven't read Joy Luck Club) wrote on a book about them. I expect the best for my employees, similarly the same way i've driven myself : to be the best in work.

Unfortunately, some things came about unexpectedly. I had to cease a project. A project i had hired more than 40 employees for. 40 employees with families and cars to feed. This is not going to be easy. I had spent a few nights tossing in bed, weighing the pros and cons of terminating this project, whom i had spent most of my time 24/7 with through the past year and half. The pros were simple : i get my life back, i get to go back to triathlon, i will get married without much worries, and even go for a long term holiday. The cons are : many lives are dependent on me and the project generates 'X' revenue for me to live out my dreams. The cons overweigh the pros, resulting in sleepless nights, and extra wrinkles on my sad face. I don't know how i am going to do this.

In a matter of minutes, i need to announce the exit strategy to my team : the last day is 31st June 2011. Goodbye my team, some of you are awesome, some of you are not.

Time to hunt for another "baby" to nurture, to grow and to prosper.