Tweet

Be the new kind of Boss!!

Guest post by: Deborah Kimmett

Article Overview: It used to be the boss was the boss and she told you what to do. But now there’s a New Boss in town. This New Boss says we’re not operating from a bureaucratic model any more. We’re into lateral management and we want you to think for yourself. Think for myself? When did that become part of the job description?

Be the new kind of Boss!!

We are in a new business model. And as a human resources person you realize its hard for people to understand who is the boss when in some organizations that changes ever day. It used to be the boss was the boss and she told you what to do. But now
there’s a New Boss in town. This New Boss says we’re not operating from a
bureaucratic model any more. We’re into lateral management and we want you
to think for yourself.
Think for myself? When did that become part of the job description?
Honestly, does she really want you to think for yourself? If you start doing
that who knows where that could lead?
You might start telling her to leave people alone so they can get their jobs
done and while she’s at it, dump the jerk she’s been dating in accounting
because he’s only using her to get ahead.
No, she doesn’t want you to think for yourself. She wants you to think the
way she does.
This New Boss stands in front of you, with the perkiness of a Girl Guide
leader and says,
“We’re changing direction - again!”
And if you’re thinking to yourself, isn’t this great, now that we finally know
what we’re doing you’re changing it up again. Keep your thoughts to yourself.
Because even though this New Boss says we have an open door policy, if
you try voicing this complaint, she’ll tell you you’re not a team player. “Don’t
think of this as more work for less money. Think of this as another growth
opportunity. Think outside the box.”
Think outside the box? I liked the box. It was comforting.
I knew where my Post-its were.
But don’t say that to your boss. No, she’ll tell you to push the envelope.
Apparently, once you get outside the box, there’s an envelope to push.
If you really were thinking for yourself, you’d be thinking, this New Boss is
like a cheerleader on the Titanic. She’s busy rearranging the deck chairs but the
ship is still going down.
But don’t tell her that, or she’ll hire a motivational speaker.
*
Bosses, as a group, are confusing. For a while, bosses let you have flex-
time, telling you to work any hours you liked. Now they want face-time. For a
while, they believed you when you said you came in early or worked late, but
now if they don’t see your kisser sitting there each and every day they get all
anxious. Which begs the question if you can’t see a worker on the paper trail, do
they exist?
Some bosses want respect.
Others want you to suck up.
Some want both. It gets confusing.
As a freelance speaker I have plenty of introductory meetings at companies
where I have to make a quick assessment of who is the boss and who is the
assistant. Sometimes I end up bending over backwards trying to please
someone who has no power to begin with.
This is a total waste of my time. Why didn’t the boss tell me what she
wanted in the first place?
Or is it the assistants who are the ones doing the real work to begin with?

Related Articles
  Can the Bully Become a Leader?
  Drive-By Flattery
  Sue Your Boss
  Talk to Your Boss about Your Next Job
  Bad Bosses
  Understanding Boss Psychology
  Be Your Own Boss! ~FOR SERIOUS ENTREPRENEURS...SECRETS TO WEALTH
  Manage Up As Well As Down
  Getting a Reluctant Boss to Agree
  Fear of The "Boss" - The Biggest Obstacle To Career Progression
  Developing an Independent Entrepreneurial Mindset
  How To Start Your Own Bookkeeping Business
  Leadership Assessment #7 – Connects Well with People
  3 Tips for Being The Best Boss You Can Be!
  Read Between the Lines
  What if Your Boss is a Jerk
  Design Your Business to Fit Your Lifestyle
  Tyrant or Bully?
  The Tough Pressure of Asking For A Raise in Recessions
  Wimpy Boss

Article Tags: boss, cultivating courage, humour, leadership, resonating with your staff



Related Forum Posts
Re: $8 website turns into a million-dollar empire - I love reading this kind of story for insipration. Please let's find this kind of stories and post them here
Marketing Sponsorship - Hi Garth, Can you give us an example of a type of groups that you sponsor? What kind of promotion are you getting? What kind of return are you getting from the members?
Re: New web hosting site- would appreciate feedback - Thanks for the post - usually we do these kind of reviews once you hit 20 posts so you kind of earn your way in... but you're not that far off!
Comparisons - Hi Jessica - that is enviable having only one competitor. Then you should look at companies that are offering approximately the same kind of service (i.e. retail, etc), seeking the same kind of investment and look at what they charge and what they offer. Cheers
Re: The Benefits of Home Based Businesses Opportunity - home based business is also kind of small size business. You can many benefits from these kind of businesses, as you can invest less to gain positive results in the beginning....


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Is the Media to blame for losses in super?

The Importance of Master Data Management (MDM)

Living on The Edge of Chaos...

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.