Casual Fridays - The Best Bosses
Posted by Lisa Hendey in Just me on Friday, March 04, 2011 2:30 PM
In my working life, I’ve had occasion to be on both sides of the boss/subordinate equation a few times. In my very first “real” job, I actually played a very big part in having an ineffective supervisor disciplined and ultimately terminated. Looking back at my 23 year old self now, I realize that the steps I took then—which I was quite convicted about—now seem very rash and immature. But back then, I saw a problem at work, I saw injustices being committed, and I wasn’t afraid to stand up and take it to the proper authorities. Frankly, I’m not sure this older version of myself would have been bold enough to act in that fashion.
We bloggers here at Faith & Family, and all of the writers for the magazine, are blessed to work with an amazing “boss”. Although Danielle shies away from the spotlight, and although she’s several years younger than me, she teaches me lessons quite consistently about how to supervise with style. Her recent handling of Faith & Family’s ownership transition is a great example of her class, her grace and her effective communication skills. Reading this, I know I sound like a classic “kiss up”, but I do really feel Mrs. Bean deserves a pat on the back. Most of us have no concept of the chaos that is caused by a transition like we’ve experienced, and through it all Danielle hasn’t missed a beat.
Looking at the summation of my working experience to date, I would point to the following traits that are typically present in a great boss:
* Expects the very best of you and inspires you to give your maximum performance
* Praises you when you’ve excelled and lovingly corrects you when you’ve fallen short
* Communicates consistently, even when the only thing she can say is, “I don’t know right now, but will follow up as soon as possible.”
* Is friendly and caring, but doesn’t cross inappropriate boundaries
* Understands your commitment to your most important vocation - motherhood - and creates a work environment that helps you prioritize what’s most important
These are simply a few things that come to mind. I could draw up a similar list extolling the anti-virtues of a few beastly supervisors I’ve known in my career, but maybe I’ll leave that fun to you. I’ll close by saying that being a person of faith in the workplace should drive all of our interactions with others - the old reminder to preach constantly, using words when necessary, is especially pertinent in the workplace.
In the comments below, please share your thoughts on what factors go into effective supervision. Keep in mind that if you’re a mom, you’re also a supervisor, and that many of these same traits are important in the running of a household. Have you known good and bad bosses? Are you a supervisor facing unique challenges in your work? I’d love to hear from you!
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