Who’s the Boss?
I hate the word ‘boss’. The Webster’s dictionary says to ‘boss’ is “to order about in a domineering way”.
I once presented a strategic plan to a large broadcast group in which I proposed their sales people would work for their clients and their management people would work for their employees.
The president of the company asked, “If the salespeople work for our clients, and our managers work for our staff, who the heck is working for the company?” He just didn’t get it. His company would reach its goals if his managers helped their people reach their goals and their people in turn, helped their customers reach their goals.
The most successful managers hire people who have a passion to do their jobs to the best of their ability…these people don’t need a boss. These managers realize their job is not to ‘boss’, but rather to give their people access to the tools, training, people, resources and environment that allows them to be more productive.
So if you’re a manger, here’s an idea. Instead of giving your people a ‘to-do list’, ask them to give you a ‘to-do list’. What do they need you to do to help them be more productive?
Zig Ziglar said, “You can get everything you want, as long as you are willing to help others get want they want.” It’s also been said that “You can be as successful as you want, if you are willing to let others take the credit.”
Are you ready to quit being the boss, and to become the facilitator to your team’s success?