There are a lot of bad bosses. And there are a lot of good ones, too. How do you know which you work for?
The narcissist always blames the boss. One after another, from one position to the next, these employees claim to have a string of bad luck. They always find themselves the victim of poor management.
“Everyone agrees,” they claim. “My boss stinks.” Really? Perhaps everyone you’re speaking with agrees. (Misery loves company.)
This is not a defense for those managers who flagrantly disregard the human psyche and spirit in their interactions, or show little capability in accessing the potential of those around them. It’s quite the opposite.
The real value isn’t created by determining what type of boss you work for. Whether your supervisor is a skilled leader or someone who is the victim of the Peter Principle, the question is this: What are you going to do about it?
If your boss regularly disappoints you, staying angry is an option. Such an emotional response has the illusion of being easier. But there’s nothing easy about suffering over the long term. This, then, makes the alternative a more productive response: Determine your responsibility in the matter and act on it.
If your supervisor meets (exceeds!) your expectations, now is the time to act. Beyond the simple “thank you” note, ask them questions to leverage the momentum. Seeking to learn from those who model mastery is not only wise, it’s a higher compliment.
This isn’t about your boss. Now is your chance to ensure people know who you are.
What questions will you ask to leverage momentum with leaders around you? Share them in the space below.
In taking this to heart personally…I rephrased this…”Seeking to learn from those who model mastery of regard for human psyche and spirit in their interactions, and modeling the ability and capacity to access the potential of those around them” is spot on. Determining MY responsibility, looking at the mirror of what is being reflected back at me when my ‘boss’ holds up an image that is different that how I ‘see’ myself is also so important…I have finally learned to not just take what others see and say about us as truth…I’ve grown and learned to see myself in a more true light, and then ACTED ON IT!
I have done so just this week, a leap of faith that was taking a good look at how I was looking for degrees of strength in others for SO long, I forgot to look in the mirror, and SEE my own degrees of strength in a truer light that was being projected TO me by my superiors.
Thank you Craig, Steve, Theresa, for helping me to grow and be forward focused in MY OWN LIFE!
On to a new life path as I ensure people know who I really am, and will benefit from my strengths in all facets of my personality!
You are spot on Patricia. This is not about your boss, this is about taking REAL responsibility in your actions and believing that you can become better. We all should be alive and enjoy what we are doing, failures and successes. Be proud of both, because you learned from each. Thanks Craig and Steve.
Patricia – thanks for your touching comment above and the reminder the Degrees of Strength is a concept that supports us and allows us to become stronger when we use it with ourselves. Here’s to acceptance and gratitude for our all strengths.