A boss is beyond a swanky office

We all have dreams and for many people in the working age, one of their dreams is to become a boss or chief executive of a big and successful company. With capitalism now deeply entrenched in the human competitive psyche, such dreams are rather common. When one shuts their eyes to dream or envisage themselves as bosses, the images are hardly those of a fellow with a lot of work before their desk and afternoon filled with headaches accrued from solving a myriad of problems that arise from all angles. Instead, these images are often of those of the grandeur that comes with some of these enviable positions. One envisions the air conditioned office with its wall to wall carpet complimented with the ubiquitous swinging chair. On top of thi,s the luxury of having people to run errands for you is equally enticing. What is interesting is that some people with huge egos treasure the day they make it to such a level and once they get there, then their inflated egos make them lose focus on what is really important. They simply go ahead to enjoy the perks that come with the office and wallow in the ignorance of what exactly is expected of them. These are usually the same people who think that their subordinates are supposed to fear them and do everything they are told without any questions even when it has very little to do with the company’s objectives. Many times, such bosses are despised by the same people they think have great respect for them. Bosses should not forget that what they are doing is just a job like any other and not a vacation in the Caribbean. The focus should remain on using one’s leadership and management skills to bring out the best in your workers in order to move the company forward. Heading a company does not mean creating a vacuum around yourself where it is very difficult for fellow staff to get to you when they have an issue they need to discuss with you now that you are ‘very busy.’ A good manager should have an ear for everyone even those workers he/she may consider not to be vital to the company’s objectives like cleaners or tea girls. The focus should be on building a winning team that is ready to take on your competitors and achieve the goals of the company with less effort. The boss should be able to know how to inspire those below to work and love what they do. For this to happen, the boss should be exemplary and a parental figure too. More importantly, the world is now changing at a faster rate than ever before. Instead of sitting in your chair and swinging around the whole day, a smart boss ought to think of how to keep his company riding the wave of changes that may sweep across his/her respective industry. In today’s world, a boss is a failure if he/she fails to attract and retain talent at the company he heads and more than ever, if he fails to see and appreciate new trends that may see his company becoming obsolete. Ask Kodak.