Co-workers

National Boss Day

In case you didn’t know, today is National Boss Day (or Bosses’ Day).

For some workers, the word “boss” sends a shiver down their spine. Others have a great working relationship with their supervisors and managers.

I’ve been pretty lucky in my last few jobs to have some really great, approachable bosses.

All of them had a very balanced approach to managing me – giving me information and guidance, but empowering me to do my job and fix any issues along the way.

But in my career, I’ve also had a few scary bosses. The scariest was when I worked in retail some years ago. My boss was quite unpopular; she would pit workers against one another and had a poor grasp of who the key players on the team were and whose work should be rewarded.

Ironically, she was promoted to an upper management position. And you know what? She did a phenomenal job there, because she made an adjustment to her career that was a far better fit for her talents: she was supervising processes, not people.

That made a lasting impression on me – that the worker/boss relationship is a two-way street. If you need something from your boss that you’re not getting (training, communication, flexibility), it’s important for you to let them know. Many of us get an annual review from our boss, but when was the last time you gave a boss feedback?

Take a minute today to say thanks to your boss. And if you need a fresh new approach to the relationship you have with your supervisor or manager? Wish them a happy bosses’ day anyway, and break the ice.