The Big Boss
Most of have a shared experience - a meeting with the big boss. Not our day to day supervisor, or their manager, but the Big Kahuna themselves. Sometimes, this is like a brush with celebrity. It’s always refreshing to get a chance to tell people who make the decisions about how it is at the coalface. But what about when you’re the big boss? How do you ensure these opportunities go well?
Leadership takes some ego. We have to have a certain level of self confidence and self belief to be able to out ourselves out as leaders, and to influence others. For some, it’s a necessary evil, a price to pay for the opportunity to help others by assuming a leadership role. For others, it’s a pleasure, and the ego can grow as far as others will let it. This is obviously a dangerous path - hearing only what we want to hear, in the end, does no-one any favours. For those who can keep their ego in check, it’s an immensely rewarding experience. The first tip for being the big boss is to find something that grounds you. For some, it’s a hobby or sport. It’s hard to pretend you’re important when you’re trying as hard as everyone else to win. For others, it’s a trusted insider who will let you know if your head starts to swell. Whatever it might be, find something that reminds you that you work for your team at the same time that they work for you.
It’s only natural to be proud of our work. We’ve put our effort into it, and this often brings with it a desire to have others see our work and take some pleasure in it too. When that person is the big boss, it takes on another aspect; this person can most likely stop the flow of resources that enable us to do our work, or they can find ways to increase our share and do more. If you’re the boss, remember that people want to show you the good that they do. Take pride in their pride; it’s a great sign that the company is on track. The second tip for being the big boss is to show pride in your team. Let them know when they’re doing a good job. And tell them if you need them to lift their game; if you’ve found something that needs fixing, it shows you’re interested and engaged. That doesn’t mean that you try to find things to correct - but don’t hold back if you do.
One of the best feelings we have is that of being seen. It’s easy to dismiss the decisions made in remote buildings, or even in remote cities or countries, by faceless people with important titles. It’s harder to do so when you know that the boss has been to your workplace and seen what you do, and takes an interest. Chances are, if the boss visits, they’ll learn something and adopt a better way to understand your work. So, if you’re the boss, be visible. Part of feeling appreciated is being seen, and there’s no better way to make someone feel seen than to go and see them. Ask questions, and take an interest in the workplace. The impact will be lasting. The third tip for being the big boss is to make time to meet the team in their workplace. Don’t find the time - that won’t happen. People will tell you it’s ok, you’re busy, they understand. Don’t let this stop you; make the time.
It is said that first impressions are the most powerful. When you’re the big boss, you don’t get to make many impressions on the majority of the workforce. When you visit others you get to interact with a wide variety of people and they have little chance to make a big impact. For them though, there are very few opportunities to interact with the big boss, and therefore any interactions will be larger and more meaningful from their perspective. Their entire impression of you might be based on something as simple as whether you greet them with a smile and thank them for their time. It can be hard to be present for every interaction, and to treat every one as though they are the centre of your attention. It’s also hard to claw back a bad impression and engender loyalty in a group you’ve brushed off. The final tip for being the big boss is to be authentic. Treat everyone you interact with as though they’re your boss. If you’re doing your job right; they are.
If you’re the boss, appreciate that people will always want to impress you. So be impressed. Get out and visit the team, and when you do, take the time to listen and understand the differences between what you might think, and what your team thinks. When it’s different, find out why and explain to the team why these differences might exist. Be open and honest. For most of us, especially in Australia, there’s a good chance that no-one thinks you’re special, even if you are the big boss. They know that you put your pants on one leg at a time, so don’t pretend to be better than them. Your job as the big boss isn’t to impress people, it’s to help them. We do this by learning. Enjoy the experience, and take every chance you get - it is a fact of the job that there won’t be enough of them.
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