Characteristics of a Humble vs. Horrible Boss.

Characteristics of A Humble Boss:


1. Really takes the time to get to know all of the employees before getting to work and giving expectations.
2. States clearly what his/her expectations are and why.
3. Gives time for employees to learn those expectations.
4. Makes each employee feel like they are apart of the team. Values each of his/her team member's opinion.
5. Is in the trenches (work area) and does not hide behind the ivory tower (office). Rolls up sleeves when needed.
6. Addresses issues with maturity and according to company guidelines.
7. Has not forgotten his/her position before he has gotten into this position of authority.
8. Does not spend time gossiping with his/her employees about other employees.
9. Treats everyone fairly.
10. Has an open door policy, where his/her employees can voice a concern without a fear of repercussion.
11. Goes to bat for his or her employees when he feels like there is an unjust or unfair situation.
12. Praises employees for good or excellent service and job performance.
13. Has incentives for goals.
14. Is visible at the job.
15. Does not ask employees to do what he or she would not be willing to do.
16. Addresses issues in a timely fashion and clearly according to company policies not personal opinions.
17. Does not let his or personal life get in the way of his or her supervision.
18. Does not persecute or penalize an employee for their individual beliefs.
19. Is a ethical example particularly in teaching or in a religious position.
20. Gives timely and accurate feedback. Starts coaching or write ups with a positive, addresses negative behavior, then ends with a positive.

Characteristics of a Horrible Boss:

1. Just begins to start working without getting to know employees. Just starts giving orders.
2. No clear defined expectations, but employees are held accountable for them.
3. Does not give employees adequate time to learn his or her expectations.
4. Plays favorites among team members. Only ask certain employees to do special projects or assignments based on personal relationships.
5. Is never seen in the work area, but in the office. The only time you see the boss is when his her boss is around. Then they act as is they are the hardest worker there.
6. Addresses issues with an iron fist and based on personal opinions.
7. Has forgotten his/her previous position and has unrealistic expectations.
8. Gossips with employees about other employees and shares personal information with his or her colleagues.
9. Plays favorites among team members; hold team members to different standards.
10. Considers team members with different opinions as "trouble makers" or "rebels". Holds personal vendetta against employees who go to his or her superiors.
11. Is too weak or afraid to go to his/her superiors on behalf of an employee injustice or complaint. Is a corporate brownoser.
12. Never praises employees or motivates employees for excellent work. Only criticizes negative behavior.
13. Does not reward good performance.
14. Is never seen on the job, but in the office or always at meetings yet holding employees accountable for work they are not seeing.
15. Coaches or write up employees for attendance issues yet he or she takes two-hour long lunches at least twice a week.
16. Addresses employee issues two or three weeks after an incident has happened with no documentation.
17. Is constantly on the phone with friends or family or off of work for personal issues.
18. Only promotes employees who have the same personal beliefs; persecutes employees with different moral views.
19. Has no moral conduct, curses at work, tells dirty jokes.
20. Evaluations/performance appraisals are unclear, not concise and not indicative of expectations as expectations of that position have not clearly been defined. Evaluations are based on personal not professional feelings. Employees leave meetings feeling two feet tall. No positive feedback is given at the beginning or end of a meeting, performance appraisal or coaching for improvement meeting.

If you are leader, which category do you fall under? Give this to your employees anonymously. Place a box by each trait and see which section has the more check marks. You may be surprised.

Horrible Bosses

Most of us that do not have the luxury of working for ourselves, have to answer to someone in a position of power and authority, otherwise known as a "boss" or "supervisor" or "team leader". Basically, it is the person responsible for hiring and firing us, and approving our time off that kind of good stuff. For most of us that have worked for more than five years, we have probably had to deal with a lot of different bosses. You get use to one boss, they move on and you have to deal with another. Some of those bosses, you just love, some you just love to hate. We have all been there, if you do not have a boss you love to hate, you are either lying to yourself or you are truly blessed.

Most of us have had a boss that make us just loathe coming in to work. We rejoice when they call in sick or take a vacation. We dread the alarm clock going off in the morning because we know its only a matter of time before we have to come in contact with BOSS HOG. It seems like there are more horrible bosses out there now than there are good ones, based on the conversations that I have had with several close friends and family members. We are often left scratching our heads and asking the question, "Who did this person sleep with to get this position?" "Why are they my boss?" and other questions such as those. Sound familiar yet?

The simple answer is, it does not matter. It does not matter how your boss got his or her job, the simple matter is they got the job and are now your leader. While we may not like it, that is the hand we were dealt. How do we deal with these leaders. One thing to remember when dealing with a horrible boss is this, Not every person is designed to be in a power of authority or in a leadership role. When some get it, it goes to their head and that power truly magnifies the true nature of a person.

What makes a good leader? A good leader is someone who has been there, meaning they been in the trenches with you. They were once an "hourly" employee or worked your position so they stay true to you. They do not put a bunch of expectations on you that are unrealistic because they know the job you are working so they know what the job entails. They are not gonna through a bunch of high expectations on you. A horrible boss is someone who makes a bunch of demands on you and has forgotten that only a short while ago, they were in the trenches and had to work just as hard, now all of a sudden they have selective amnesia and bark that either you get the job done, or you will be held accountable. A good leader is approachable. They are someone you can go to and voice your opinion without fear of repercussions. If they are doing something wrong, they ask for input. They ask for help. However a horrible boss, is never approachable and basically sits in an "ivory tower" while his worker bees are in the trenches doing the majority of the work. This boss is never around until his or her supervisor is around then and only then do you get praise. When you go to complain, the powers that be have difficulty believing you because the boss has done such a good job of playing smoke and mirrors that they just humor your complaint, report it back to your boss, and now your boss is making your life a living hell. Now you feel as if you can't make a complaint or make waves and you have been labeled as the "troublemaker". A giant bullseye is now being placed on your back.

What do you do? How do you deal with a boss who simply does not get it. The best answer, is to do your job an do it well. Do not let your boss be an excuse for you to be a slacker. You don't want to give any ammunition to your leader to coach you, write you up, or terminate you. Be at work at least 10 minutes before your shift. Document everything that happens at work. If your boss ask to meet with you, document the meeting. Save any emails that are sent to you. Save any emails that you send to your boss. You NEVER know when they will come in handy if you are accused of being difficult.

It is also important to remember to pray for your leader. Often time a person in a position of power is not ready for such a role. Their maturity levels and personalities are truly magnified when they get into that position. Often times, God puts a person in power to show you something. Either A, he is teaching you patience and endurance or B he is using it to move you out of that place. Ask him to reveal to you what is real. You may be surprised. God maybe using that boss as a stepping stone to promote you to that next level or move you into a higher position of power. Maybe he is moving you into that position and humbling you before you get that leadership role so you know what not to do.

If you just got promoted to a position of power, remember, a true leader is a humble leader that is open-minded, fair, and confident.Don't forget where you came from. You won't get anywhere by puffing out your chest, making unrealistic demands, and backbiting. Remember, you were once there and had a horrible boss, why do the same thing? God is testing you to see if you can truly handle the blessing he has given you.

CG2

Yep! There is More!

How many of you follow this life recipe?


1 does of getting up in the morning still tired and agitated.
1 cup of coffee or energy drink
1 mindless/frustrating drive to work in rush hour traffic.
1 hour of sitting at your desk twiddling your thumbs before actually working.
3 hours of meetings and reports.
4 hours of data entry
1 hour of complaining in the break room/lounge/water cooler.
1/2 or 1 hour of mindless frustrating drive in rush hour traffic.
2 hours of crashing in front of your couch in front of the TV.
1 hour of eating a meal
1 hour of complaining to your spouse, friend, or roommate about your job.
8/9 hours of sleep.

Repeat the process next day.

How many of us follow this recipe? We go to work only to come home to gripe and moan about work and then repeat the same process. We go home and just crash in front of our couches. We sleep, we eat, we just crash and burn. Then we get up and repeat the same process. We wonder why we are sick, stressed and unhealthy. Is that all their is for ourselves? No of course not! We are so much more than our jobs, our finances and our stresses. There is a whole bunch of other stuff out their and that is called A LIFE.

Let me stress that I know of what I speak. I used to come home, flop down on the couch, maybe get enough energy to cook a meal, than go back to watching television, then drift off to sleep, only to repeat the same thing the next day. I did that for a number of years working at the bank and in the school system. I allowed my job to become my identity. So many of us do. We REFUSE to go out during the week, because it conflicts with our 12 hours of sleep we think we need so much. We refuse to do anything that conflicts with our daily routines. What is the deal?

It seems like so many of us are getting into this rut. So many people are hypertensive, prone to stress and taking our frustrations out on others. It is so not worth it. There are things to do. I am not suggesting spend a lot of money and go out get crazy during the week but there are things you can do to avoid following that dreaded recipe.

Gilrath's Go Get A Life Plan:

1.Call a friend or loved one and only talk about one or two positive things that happened at work. If you can't find anything, than talk about something else positive. Keep the conversation from focusing on your job as much.

2.Eat out with a friend or significant other. While we all understand that you have to be get up early to be at work. However, does this mean you got to go to bed before the sun comes up? Go to a happy hour and have a nice glass of wine, if you don't drink alcohol, then have a nice cup of Joe, eat an appetizer and enjoy the ambiance around you. Don't use it though as a gripe session to complain about your boss, your job, duties, etc. Focus on the positive areas of your life. It is OK to vent a little while about things that bother you, but if you can't focus on any positive areas, you might want to reevaluate your job and your life.

3.Go for a nice walk or run after work. Before you even get home, change your work clothes at work and go to the park nearby and run or walk with some headphones. That is good way to unwind right away. You are running all that negative or stress out of you and will have more energy when you get home. Do this at least two times a week. (if weather is not nice, go to an indoor gym or track.

4. Read a good book. Literature is good way to escape your real life. Read outside (if weather is right).

5. Go to weekly bible study. That is a good motivator and encourager.

Remember, life is too short and we are reminded of that everyday. Let us not continue to get comfortable and focus so much on our business minds, we are neglecting our physical, mental, and spiritual needs. All of those are vital to function. I know it is hard, but PUSH yourself. Don't just settle for complacency and fatigue. You are worth so much more.

CG2

Its Written All Over Your "Face"

When I first got Facebook, I was very excited about what it represented. To me it represented and in a lot of ways still represents open communication. It was a way for me to communicate with my friends and family without having to spend a lot of time on the phone. It allowed me time to check in with friends and family on their endeavors and their trials and tribulations as well as their triumphs. It was a way for me to laugh at funny posts, comment on world events, and popular culture and so many other things.

That was well over five years ago. Now let's fast forward to the present time. I click on my homepage and my news feed and am very disheartened by what I see and read. I am subjected to all types of inappropriate and immature conduct. I have had to unsubscribe from a lot of people's pages because I do not want to be subjected to the nonsense that I am seeing. Pretty soon, unfortunately will will have to "unfriend" some people because the unsubscribing is not doing the trick. Now I understand that people have the right to post what they want on their pages but, also people have to right not to be subjected to it. When people say things like "If you don't like what I have to say, then stay the F&&CK off my page!" Okay, that is not a problem but also remember, you are putting yourself out there for comments and feedback. You are putting your information out there in a public forum. Your words, actions, and pictures are fare game.

I know I am not the only one who feels this way as I posted my frustration on the site yesterday and got a lot of "likes" so I know that others are feeling the same way I do. How can we expect our youth to do act appropriately carry themselves with maturity when a lot of adults and parents are doing the same thing. It is time out for the madness.Now if you want to know what I am talking about, I will give you a few examples:

1. Calling someone out on Facebook: Just because it says "face" book does not mean you are talking to someone face to face. I have seen people call others out with a beef they have with that person. Example: "If this bitch, (name here) says one more thing to me I swear.." Ok. my problem with this is, how mature is this person right now? Why put your business out here like this? Are you serious? Are you not man/woman enough to talk to this person face to face? IT seems like to me, you are hiding behind your page. Whatever happened to direct confrontation? I am not advocating fighting but what happened to if your brother or sister wronged you, then address it with them one on one. What is the point of this? A lot of kids are doing this, but I see a lot of adults doing this as well.

2. All the cursing: I get that you have freedom of speech. You have the right to say what you want. However just because you have the right to say something, does not mean you always should. It takes more maturity and responsibility to use the freedom that you have been given wisely and with wisdom. The amount of profanity is ridiculous that I see on people's pages.

3. Nasty pictures: I see a lot of pictures of naked women, body parts, body fluids, and just pictures that are just ridiculous. While some I understand are viruses are spam that our beyond our control, some are just people trying to be funny and its hugely inappropriate. Is it necessary? And the sad part is, some of the people posting these pictures are not teenagers, they are adults who are my age or older. What are you doing? How old are you acting right now?

4. Drama/Drama/Drama/Raining On Parade: These are the ones that every Facebook post is negative, somber and a buzz kill. Its the one where the person is always posting the worst case scenario or trying their hardest to make everyone feel sorry for them. Is your life that bad? Is their nothing in your life that brings you joy? Seek help immediately.

5. Misspeleng of wurds: Yes that was done on purpose. I read several post that leave me scratching my head and going "huh?" Some of it is not slang. Some of it is just bad writing. Please if you want to get your point across, we should be able to read it. If you are going to tell someone off via social media, they should at least be able to decipher that you are talking about them and not be laughing at you instead.

6. Pictures of drugs: If you choose to smoke weed, that is your business, but is it necessary to post pictures of the "cush" you have smoked? Do we really need to see you getting high?

Please understand that it is not my intend to offend. I am only speaking what was laid on my heart. It is time out of this nonsense. I still enjoy Facebook as a way to post good news, communicate with friends and family and share important events, offer support and sympathy to those struggling in their trials and tribulations (death of a loved one, illness, etc) but I don't want to communicate and be involved in drama or ignorance. Your words and your pictures are a direct reflection of you. If you are someone that is always posting nasty post or posting angry or depressing rants that that is how you will be viewed. Also keep in mind right or wrong, a lot of jobs look on your pages and use that as a determining factor to hire you. Who wants to hire someone that uses social media to hurt others, talk vulgar, or be nasty. Employers may think that this is how you will be in the workplace. How is your social media any different then your outward social and professional life?

Parents, please be vigilant in checking your children's pages. It is amazing the amount of vulgarity, nasty pictures and cyber bullying that goes on on social media pages. If your child is under 18, you have every right to check their pages and see what they are posting on others pages, and what is being posted on theirs. It is a good way to filter out some bad influences and help your child if he or she is being a bad influence.

Again, do not be offended but then again if you are offended then obviously there is something to that. We can do so much better. We are worth so much more than what we are doing. Let's grow and keep moving forward.

In the spirit of love,
CG2 - The Rath of Gil