I’m the boss!  Well not really, unless you count my fish tank because I’m in total control of them. I feed and take care of them. They do what I say, sort of. Without me I guess they would have hard time living. Am I really a boss though? My wife would laugh at this for sure!

According to Webster’s dictionary a Boss is:

According to this definition I NEVER want to be a boss. Why would I want to control someone (or think I can)? Why would I want to exercise MY authority on someone? Why on earth would I ever want to directly be in charge someone instead of trusting them to do what they were hired to do in the first place? Hey, if I were the ‘boss’ I’d have hopefully hired them anyhow so why worry about them doing the best they can do right? Crazy that anyone would even consider themselves a ‘boss’. Unless you name is Hugo I suppose. The whole ‘Im the boss thing’ has me thinking what makes a great person to work with. To work for? This post by George Couros came to mind. After reading @gcouros post  A great leader will know when to get out of the way, or help you along the way I thought, wow how I would LOVE to be leader with insight. To be a leader that supports people in this way.

Now Ive worked with great leaders, and some not so great. Great leaders who have inspired and challenged and Ive learned so much from them. Leaders who (as in George’s post points out know the toxicity of a ‘no’) help others find their way. Leaders who may know that your idea needs work but give you room, space, ideas to figure it out on your own. Platforms for failure, reflection and support. The superlative leaders do this. I hope one day I can be one of these leaders.  Its about learning. As we all know administrators and leaders are not the same, although good ones can be. Not to throw ‘administrators’ under the bus, they need help from us. The need help in understanding how they can help us. In their defence we often think they know ‘all’ …..because they are the ‘boss’. They need our input. Feedback. Not just in appraisal time but throughout the year. Open communication will hopefully break down the boss barrier.

I know one thing, I will never be a ‘boss’.