Positive Blatherings: Managers, Bosses Can Make A Difference – But Will They?
Maybe I am just in a funk, but it seems like each and every morning starts out OK, but then I sink into a feeling of despair that I have to really work at shaking off. Why? I really have no idea. Well, maybe I have an idea after all. You see, I really love what I do on a daily basis. I love doing radio, I love doing Voice Overs, I love editing audio and video and recording podcasts. I love solving technical problems with little resources because it challenges me to think and utilize my 25 years of troubleshooting experience. Don’t get me wrong, it would be nice to simply throw money at a problem, but I have never really worked in an environment where that was possible. I even worked for a Fortune 500 company whose CEO owned a basketball team, but even there, we had to make due with less than what we really needed. That has never changed in my professional life. I had only one job where they had the best tools for the job – and I was laid off 11 months after I started because of a great recession.
I’m going to stay positive with this article because – well, I really have to. In trying to create a positivity-based life, I must always see the forest through the trees. So, I am going to speak directly to the Managers who might be reading this. Are you a team leader or department head? Did you know that you and people like you in every single industry in this country control the mental and emotional well-being of the working class of this country? Some would argue with me, but getting down to the brass tax ask this question: How many people had a bad day at work because of their boss or supervisor? How many of those people end up with stress related illness like insomnia, anxiety, depression, obesity and high blood pressure? Do I have the science? Not in front of me – but I have been there, so I have my own anecdotal evidence. Plus, it is a darn good hunch.
If you are a manager, do this country a favor and compliment your employees. Tell them they are doing a good job. For the ones who are not, find at least one thing they are doing right and build on that. Build them up, don’t knock them down. The best leaders want good things for their team. Are you afraid one of your staff might take your job one day? Then do your job better instead of holding them down.
There is nothing more crushing in a job when you feel that your management doesn’t care about you. I know what that’s like. I am no stranger to being treated like a warm body in a seat. Made to feel that I am no more special than the guy who served me a coffee in the cafe, and if asked, he would do my job just as good.
Managers – you can change the emotional landscape of this country. You can help make people feel good about a day’s work. The big question is will you? The bigger question can be, why wouldn’t you? Because if you don’t treat your team with respect, then you don’t deserve to lead them.
Some would argue with me, but getting down to the brass tax ask this question: How many people had a bad day at work because of their boss or supervisor? How many of those people end up with stress related illness like insomnia, anxiety, depression, obesity and high blood pressure? Do I have the science? Not in front of me – but I have been there, so I have my own anecdotal evidence. Plus, it is a darn good hunch.