8/9/2019 This Thing About Bosses

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This “Thing” about Bosses!

 Taking my thoughts from my being a manager at many instances, and

being under others, I have found this “thing” that has made very negative

impression on people working with slightly insensitive bosses.

 This “thing” is about bosses bringing their personal lives (especially the

challenges) into the oce. I will try to deal with one at a time and the

negative e!ect on employee.

“Thing 1”

I’m bored at home, so y’all have to stay at work till I’m ready to

go"

 This phenomenon is common place at work especially among people who

by nature are given to honouring superiors like they would any other older

person, even if the boss in #uestion is younger in age.

It is almost a violation of the right of an employee who has been given a

clear $ob descriptions and a letter or contract of employment stating

resumption and closing times to make them stay e%tra time at work. &uch

delays are usually not because there is something very important to be

done that could not have been done if the boss is one who understands

 Time 'anagement and the place of planning and delegation.

 The worst hit among such employees are the very “loyal” ones (I would

have preferred to call them loyal to a fault) who dont know how to draw

the line between professionalism and sentiments.

The Efet on the Emloyee

. "emotivation#  &uch employees are demoralised and feel used

rather than appreciated.*. $rong %otivation# The essence of working is to get better and be

rewarded for it, not merely please your boss for the sake of getting

his+her praise (trust me, its very time bound and unreliable).. &nhealthy $ork and 'amily (i)e# &taying e%tra-time disrupts the

balance that has a huge e!ect on the psyche of the employee.. 'atigue# There is time for everything, and if work time clashes with

rest time, it is $ust a matter of time, the employee is bound to crash./. &nhealthy *omments and *omlains# this is the hallmark of the

discussion among such employees and the direct e!ect of this is

also01. &nhealthy 'avouritism# some loyalist (sycophants) will go and tell

their boss about what others have said, in order to buy his+her

favour, at the detriment of others. 2unny enough, more than one of 

the employees may be doing this per time.3. +o el)-improvement, 4reativity, Innovation and 5ynamism" all

these virtues are absent in an overcrowded mind.

8/9/2019 This Thing About Bosses

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6. $rong (egay# most employee become what they dislike about

their bosses0 it is a basic fact of in7uence. The unhealthy circle

continues.

$hat to "o as an Emloyee

Be ready to face the fact and live your life:

. Take time to study all the company or organi8ations employee

manual, your employment letter and or contract document.*. &chedule a meeting with your direct report or “boss” and talk with

him or her with respect to the e!ect of this “Thing” on you (personal

and work life). 'ake sure you are very polite and on-point (yes, talk

from what you have learnt as your right from the manuals and

documents).. 9espectfully pro!er solution to your current working schedule and

show willingness to do more if necessary to avoid the “thing”.

If your boss shows willingness to change:

. :e very grateful and appreciate the kind gesture, and work harder

than before./. 5isengage from unproductive activity and be the standard among

your colleague0 work-the-talk. (Safe this for my take on performance

management ).

.kay Boss

;kay :oss< There is more to productivity than using your position to tellpeople to do things for you. It may be that you are replicating what was

done to you. Try to take a step away from your former boss or bosses, you

can get the best from people without necessarily taking their life (time is

life). =%tra time spent at work should be paid for.

 Take time to learn from people who are doing better0 you might need to

spend time learning the following skills, it will make you the desirable

boss"

. >eadership*. ?erformance 'anagement. 5elegation and &upervision and. >eadership (theory and practice).

 This is a sketch of my thought, I hope to make it better soon, and if 

possible, with contributions from you, we can make a $ournal for bosses

(managers, supervisors and leaders) in the @frican conte%t.

 Thanks.

@yodele-Aosh I.;