One of the things I’ve wanted for all of our children is for them to have the experience of working with a really great boss.
It’s quite literally life-changing. Maybe “boss” isn’t the right term. I think it’s more like “coach.” “Leader.”
Gifted bosses lead with you at their side, and don’t beat you with the organizational chart.
Truly great bosses inspire those around them, and they tend to attract the very best talent. People want to work for a gifted boss. They want to produce 110% and do everything they can to further their common purpose.
Truly gifted bosses don’t hire. They recruit.
They realize they are “center stage” with the spotlight on them every minute, and they know every word they utter is important, and weigh every syllable and its effect on all present.
“Bring your passion. Bring your people. Bring your best. Make it intensely personal.”
They never lead from anger, and they observe with eyes that encourage.
More importantly, they add value. Passion, too.
I don’t know if or how much of this can be taught, and I don’t know if any of our elite universities have a curriculum that produces inspired leaders, but when you’re working with a gifted boss, you know it, and you learn. Your gifted boss wants you to have his job, and he expects you to step up and demonstrate to everyone that you are up to the task.
I’ve used clips from “This Is It!”, a documentary about Michael Jackson, in management classes I’ve taught. There is a scene of him reviewing choreography and working with talented dancers and musicians. He was completely brilliant with what he was doing. Time after time, he would say “pretty good,” all the while complimenting the team but while also relentlessly pressing for something better.
When it was obvious that his team, his people, had delivered, he exclaimed “This Is IT!”
Getting there he was subtly positive. When it was right, he liberally spread the credit around. It was true leadership coupled with extreme passion.
Gifted bosses tend to attract people like flypaper, and the good ones stay with the gifted boss until it is their time to lead, and then they do – with their former boss’s blessing and good wishes. Great bosses relentlessly pursue the creation of value. Much of that value is human capital.
Conversely, I’ve watched really good people leave great companies where they were making wages that were spectacular, and where it was clear they had a path to the position of their dreams.
But they were reporting to a bad boss. Bad bosses can be old school, or micro-managers, or narcissist who just knows “the beatings will continue until morale improves” is a viable strategy.
People don’t leave jobs. People leave bad bosses.
The same is true for organizations, from the Lions club to your local church. At some point, you’re going to get a placeholder in a position of authority – someone who has been faithful and has been “in line” and feels entitled to the position.
And (shuffling of feet), well, it’s just a year, so they let him or her take the helm.
Best case, you waste a year. Worst case, 50% of members leave, and 100% of the members realize they are going to have to rebuild the entire organization once “just a year” is over.
You’re not likely to get those fifty percenters back, either.
Many of our traditional institutions are under huge stresses, and the only way they can continue to serve their community is by making changes. Change is not and will never be easy. It’s difficult, and it is for good reason.
Change occurs when three things are present – inspired leadership, people and passion. There is a line that has been used in a number of motion pictures that I disdain – “Nothing personal; it’s just business.”
If that’s what you think about anything you’re doing, you’re doing it wrong. If it’s not personal, please find something to do that is personal.
Bring your passion. Bring your people. Bring your best. Make it intensely personal.
Remember, no matter where you are in any organization, you are in the people business.
And yes, it’s that personal.
