Who’s the boss?
It’s Labor Day in the United States. A holiday I don’t quite understand. Any holiday with the word labor in it doesn’t seem like a holiday to me. Frequently Americans complete projects on Labor Day. It’s a day we finish things, say good bye to summer and orient ourselves to fall. You can read about the real reason for Labor Day here.
We’re at our son’s house in Altoona, PA for a Labor Day project. We’re replacing a deck on his house.
I’m the boss for this project. In a former life, I was a contractor so I know my way around a power saw and hammer. My right to be boss is based on experience. I have expert power, the right of influence based on one’s ability.
Knowing who the boss is expedites projects. We won’t have a power struggle even though there are areas, our son Mark, knows way more than I’ll ever know. Mark and his wife will control design and I’ll control construction.
Knowing who the boss is creates a feeling of confidence in others.
Knowing who the boss is establishes a pecking order.
Knowing who the boss is identifies the decision maker.
Occasionally, I get the feeling that “boss” is a bad word with negative implication. However, an organization without a competent boss flounders in confusion. On the other hand bosses with outdated expertise,who cling to power, hinder organizations.
Organizations miss opportunity when young experts are held down by an older leadership structure controlled by an old guard reluctant to empower new young leaders.
Vision and vitality are frequently fueled by young energetic experts. Is it time for your organization to empower young new bosses?
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Why does the term boss have negative connotations?
How might an organization empower young leaders?
As Bob Sutton describes in his (excellent!) new book, there are good bosses and there are bad bosses 🙂
Joe Tye
For years I would talk about the concept of bosses by saying “I’ve had a few great bosses and a lot of bad ones.” In recent years, my paradigm has been “I’ve been blessed by being allowed to learn from every boss I’ve ever had. From some I learned what to do. From some I learned what not to do. They’ve all helped me be better.”
Being a good boss is extremely difficult. Most bosses become bosses by being good at something that doesn’t teach them how to manage others. Most bosses have been thrown into their position unprepared.
That’s good to keep in mind when you’re the boss: “What don’t I know here?” And it’s good to keep in mind when you see another boss struggling. Assume it’s not from ill-will. Give them compassion and help them learn.
Well said Dan. A business has no future if it doesn’t develop future leaders. So I wonder — why don’t you let one of your grandkids have a go with the power saw? (Joke!)
Dear Dan,
Yesterday was Teachers’ day in India but it was sunday. So, students are celebrating for teachers day today.
Why boss has negative connotation ? It is because of reality and perception both. On reality side, perhaps bosses have created negative cultural environment in and around the globe where people have lost the feelings of psychological safety and secuity. Lay off during recent past are classic examples. Sub prime crisis and so many corporate crimes are also the classic example. It shows how bosses have misutilised their power and the term boss has probably lost faith in the tem itself. But it is not completely true anywhere or everywhere all the time or any time. There are good bosses who create bosses and leaders . They see integrated growth. But fear of saftey created by bosses have actually created wide perception that bosses are anti social, anti human people. So, on many front, this is only a perception, not the reality.
How might an organisation empower young leaders? There is no one magical formula for that. We need to take multiple appraoach at the same time. Fixing accountability at all level, monitoring of progess, and penalising to set an example, reward and recognition based on ethical and moral decision making seem to be workable.
Incompetent bosses survive because of loophole in the system. They perfectly know even before making mistake, how to escape it what could be maximum outcome. Traditionally, boss is appraised by his superior and people working under him are left in the process. So, if he is appraised by the people working under him, then it could be a kind of empoerment,because they know that they have authority to judge his boss. They will also feel important and will be more committed to thier work. This will also create a feeling of identity and recognition.
I agree to your point that when competent people work under competent boss, it itself creates demotication and wrong connotation of term boss. And I recall the saying ” power corrupts absolutely like this- Power corrupts incompetent person, not the competent person. So, Donkey can not lead a team of Arabic Horses. Boss has to be Arbic horse to lead the team of horses.
I think the best way to change the wrong connotation of term boss is to mix up with employees where they feel safe and secure. Create environment and policies for employee development. Create a feeling of combined ownership than individual ownership. This might be fruitful.
Hiya Dan.
From the dawn of time, the “boss” has been the person who motivates people by literally cracking the whip. All too often the boss today does the same. But it doesn’t have to be that way. There are time in history (and this is examplified in literature) where the boss/montor/leader motivates their subordinates without resorting to violence. In fact the subordinates WANT to work for them; they like it.
Young leaders wanting to grow need to be given responsibility. But they also need the boss that nutures them; that helps them grow. Carried out correctly this will create a domino effect, with knowledge passing down from one person to the next.
chairs
mg
Referencing your prior post Dan, words are not just words as they carry assumptions, intent and ‘past history’ or non-verbals.
Name famous ‘bosses’….Boss Tweed, ‘mob bosses’, ‘boss’ in the slave/master era, and yet, it is still called “Bosses Day” as a positive event.
Would you rather have a boss, manager or a leader? Would you rather be bossed, managed or led?
Doc,
I’d rather be led. 🙂
Regards to you,
Dan
Even though we haven’t met, I think of Doc as a friend and teacher. You can read his short bio at: http://leadershipfreak.wordpress.com/doc
Hello Dan,
This is my 1st reply to your Blog.
As far as the concept “BOSS” is concerned, it goes in different way to all the Direction.
Mother can be the BOSS for Home (Home-Minister), Teacher/ Principal can be the BOSS for Schools-colleges, sometimes Leader can be the BOSS as far as the group activity is concerned.
So my view is EVERYONE in this world can be the BOSS, if he has given some authority.
But he/she will not be called as SUCCESSFUL BOSS until and Unless he/she have the Resource utilization Capacity and proper co-ordination, we call at as a TEAM- work, where TEAM means Together Everyone Achieves Most.
But on the other hand BOSS sometimes may forget 1 thing, i.e. Ethics.
Let me Share an example.
SATYAM- SHIVAM- SUNDARAM, these are one of the most important concepts as far as ethics are concerned.
But what happened to these people/corporates {BOSSES of these firms}.
They are the live example of Business crisis/ frauds.
I want to conclude by saying BOSS is the one who motivates subordinates, takes initiatives and listens to subordinates but in an ETHICAL way. There should be a relationship of give and take.
Dear Manish,
I appreciate your first comment. It seems that you have good experience of boss culture or subordinate culture. Could you share some more examples and your experience in the industries you are attached or have worked with. I will be thankful to you.
ajay
Dear Dan,
Your current post really provides good way of defining the boss and his role. An expert power with an ability to influence the subordinate staff and other colleagues at work.
You are right in your saying that knowing your boss is important and it can facilitate your way of working and have good job satisfaction.
Boss has to be good in following the transparent policies and procedures with fairness in his approach. He can make or break of any one’s career. Hence, it is obvious that he is in a parental role and has to nurture people with an exemplary actions that can motivate others to contribute positively.
The entire organization success will be dependent on bosses and their behavior in leading the teams efficiently & effectively.