4-24-02

Thoughts, tools and friendly diversions for busy people

Administrative professionals, this is your day!!!

A day to be remembered and honored for all the hard work you do. Hopefully, you are treated with appreciation today and every day.

Because we understand your plight, we include some war stories from the real job world.

Here you will read stories about both "good" and "bad" bosses. Hopefully yours is a good one.

Some Good Bosses...
Ever have a boss like this?

He Paid from His Own Pocket

After our electronics company suffered two bad operating years in a row, top management announced there would be no annual bonuses. This, despite our group putting in six months of 12-hour-plus days on a project of great urgency. Naturally, morale was rotten.

Imagine our surprise when our boss gathered all 14 of us together and explained that although management had chosen not to reward our service, he was personally very appreciative. And he gave each of us a certificate for two to dine at the most expensive restaurant in town.

A Family of Good Bosses

I work for a family owned business. I consider anyone in the family my boss because each is an owner. In the scope of "mom & pop" type businesses, we are fairly large. We have over 80 employees.

When the family owner-managers at my company get wind of unhappy employees they make changes not just for that individual but for the whole company. They keep up to date on other businesses and institute programs when they apply.

For example, my boss read about local corporations providing low cost nutritious food as a way to keep employees happy and instituted an upscale deli with reasonable prices and the option to have the cost taken out of your check. Since they instituted this I no longer work through my lunch because I don't have to go anywhere and if I forget to bring lunch from home I don't go hungry which can affect my work performance.

Also, there was some dissatisfaction and grumbling about whose pocket profits were going into. My bosses instituted open-book management and profit sharing based on productivity, which is shown in monthly meetings showing all the employees where costs and expenses are. They aren't keeping any secrets, which makes me feel like a bigger part of the bottom line.

If All Bosses Were Like Her, the World Would Be a Happier Place

At my last job I had the best boss ever! On my first day, not only was I included in a meeting for a project I would be doing follow-up work on, she also actually solicited my input during the meeting. Her directions were always clear and concise. She was ALWAYS available when assistance was needed, even for employees who didn't work with or for her! This lady considered it part of her "managerial responsibility" to ensure that her employees were happy, challenged and performing to the best of their ability. She constantly strived to ensure her employees were fulfilled as professionals. Through the empowerment of her employees she earned their dedication, commitment, and extra-high output levels. She was always up-front, fair, and open. If all bosses were like her, the world would be a happier place to work in.

The Defender

It was Sunday afternoon, and this was the day my husband and I decided we would enjoy the afternoon - so we ventured 35 miles north of the city to view landscapes.

As a realtor in Houston, carrying a pager device on a Sunday outing is commonplace. So, yes, of course, my pager went off during our time away. The telephone number that read on the dial was one I hadn't recognized. I stopped by a pay phone and dialed the Houston telephone number. The voice that answered was that of my manager, Ms. Sanders.

She started in quickly to say that she received several telephone calls from a client of mine named "Bob." Bob, she says, said that he was very upset with me, that I was not doing what I was supposed to do, and that he basically wanted out of our listing contract. When Ms. Sanders asked particulars of Bob as to why, she quickly defended me saying that the way I was handling his transaction was the right way. She then indicated to Bob that she would first discuss the matter with me. She would obtain MY story about the situation and then get back in touch with him.

When I explained the matter to her, she was grateful that I had explained it to her. She now had BOTH sides of the story.

But what was wonderful about this was that instead of jumping on me and taking the (one-sided) side of my client, she defended me with my client from the start. That behavior of my manager told me that I could TRUST my manager, which is a rare trait of most managers in my past experience in business.

As it later turned out, Bob called both my manager and myself apologizing for his past behavior and wanted back into the contract. This occurred in part because of a great manager who kept firm on her position about me - instead of siding with an irate client. She had faith in me. This has led to a great trust in her and her management style.

The Mentor

Years ago I worked as an apprentice in a factory. I made many moves between departments in order to learn the business. I must have had 20 different supervisors while I was in the program. The one that stands out in my mind was George.

George went out of his way to make sure I had the opportunity to gain new skills. He paired me with the best workers in the department so I could learn from them. Occasionally, he would take me aside and give me bits of wisdom. One time I took a shortcut and didn't do as good a job as I should have. He pointed this out in a nice way, and told me something that has stayed with me in my work practices ever since -- "a job worth doing is worth doing well." I've applied this principle, and I believe it has helped me to advance my career.