The BOSS: Merriam-Webster defines them as “a person who exercises control or authority – one who directs or supervises workers.”
Love them or hate them, the exist and just like anything or anyone else who has ever walked or crawled upon the earth, they have a special day too!
The word BOSS actually comes from the Dutch word baas, which refers to a person who is in charge, but is not a “master.” So maybe a softer way of identifying the person in charge who does not OWN you.
The BOSS has been ridiculed, demeaned, and satirized in songs (listen to Oney by Johnny Cash and Take This Job and Shove It by Johnny Paycheck) and depicted as a clueless oaf in Dilbert cartoon. I get it. I’ve had more bad bosses than good ones.
But today, let’s celebrate the GOOD BOSS. Mine of course (and listen to Boss Builder Podcast #29 to the whole story) was a guy named Greg Nelson who took an unfocused kid and turned him into someone with a direction and purpose. What I learned from him and from other countless GOOD bosses we see in some of our organizations can be summarized below:
B
O
S
S
- B: Be a Good Example. If you want us to follow you, show us what a good example you are. Do what you say you’ll do. Even when you think we aren’t watching.
- O: Offer Yourself as a Resource. You’ve obviously experienced some success and that’s why you’re my boss. Would you be willing to help me grow as well?
- S: Show an Interest in My Career Development. Do you want me to be loyal to your organization? Show me how I can grow within and if I can’t, unselfishly help me find a better fit somewhere else.
- S: Stop Poor Performers From Ruining Our Team. Observe! Listen when we complain. We want to be a winning team so help us by booting losers off of it!
So it’s pretty simple. If you want to be a BOSS that’s remembered for the RIGHT reason, that’s a good place to start. Remember, we’ll show you respect and loyalty if you earn it. If you don’t, you can expect the bare minimum in return.
Happy Boss’s Day!
