When You Don’t Respect Your Boss

Four of my kids have had various jobs and worked for different bosses.

Some good, and some not so good. So we have had discussions as to how you treat and respond to difficult superiors.

Years ago I worked in retail for a while, and from my perspective the manager was very different. I never got close and never really had a conversation with him. To be honest, my point of view may have been skewed.  However, my immediate boss in the jewelry and silverware department was incredible.

At any rate, the day came when the manager of the store approached me about taking on a large in-house project. Basically I would be doing him a huge favor. This was before bar codes and my job was to go throughout the store and essentially give every item an identifier according to the method of my choice.

It was all to be done manually and I could have declined. However, I gladly accepted the challenge.

All of us will be asked to do things that we may not be excited about, but if our manager or superior asks us, why not jump at the chance?  I once asked a guy who worked for me to take out the trash and he balked. Let’s just say that that did not go over well with me at all. At the same time I gained a little insight into his character.

Sure I understand human thinking.  Why make the boss look good? Why help him out? That’s basically what I was doing for my former manager. But I had no problem with that.

It’s so easy to be self-centered and walk away from projects that do not interest us. But you are better than that. Furthermore the project you walk away from may be the very thing that will aid in your personal development.

This week while others are complaining about the boss, have the character to perform well, take the initiative, go the extra mile, or display a positive behaviors.

What can you do today to set the mood for the entire week at work?