Being the boss blog :: I started writing this some time ago and it keeps evolving as we keep learning and talking to more people - I assume there will be a part II to this entry or more on this topic as we go.
One of the weird things I keep circling is my position at HUGE - I think most people that know me know that I have never sought to be "in charge" or at the center of things. I think my aversion to being the focus of too much attention is part of why I love being a tech as well - I can have my fun and if I'm doing my job correctly I can be completely invisible as well. But there's no getting around the fact that I have a big role in this plan and people are going to come to me for answers or direction, both of which I have in my possession and I'm very confident in what we're doing and how we're proceeding - I've just never been at ease with the idea of being someone's boss or with the changes in how people deal with you when you are "in charge" but that's just something I have to suck up and get used to.
I've had a pretty terrific collection of bosses along the way, many that have all been very helpful and possess a number of qualities I hope to emulate. If this is to be my job then I hope I can do it as well as some of them. Of course there are also a couple of people that have shown me exactly the kind of person I don't want to be while I'm being trusted to steer this tornado.
Dawn - One of my first bosses at my first job and someone I still see from time to time. Actually I recently ran into her again on the plane back from NYC and she is one of those rare people that just never seems to change. She's pretty a pretty awesome boss. Or was, I'm willing to bet she still is. Even as an asshole teenager working at a pretty mediocre fast food job, I still remember how important it was to have a boss that had my back.
We had several training sessions and meetings to go over stupid procedures and official policies but the thing that Dawn always managed to hammer home was "if anyone fucks with any of you they will have to answer to me - your jobs are hard enough without having to put up with abuse"
I loved knowing there was someone higher up that remembered that there were people keeping all the numbers coming in and busting ass to do a pretty crappy job - and was actually grateful and protective of those people. Those are the bosses that never have to demand or ask for your respect, since they start off by giving you theirs. That's admirable.
Al/Jim - I totally put these two in the same category. Guys that find themselves in possession of a pretty amazing company that people love and, instead of being excited by that rare and cool opportunity, they see a chance to get people to do too much work and give way too much energy for too little pay and even less respect - instead of seeing the value of good people they see a bunch of suckers they can't possible value since we obviously aren't smart enough to keep an eye on the all-important bottom line the way they are.
Both of them showed what it looks like when money is more important to you than what kind of human being you are.
Also, more importantly, to be mindful of what I ask of people and honest about what I can give in return. I never want to be the guy dangling the carrot just out of reach and asking everyone to "pull for the team" from the comfort of my office or seeing people's goodwill as a commodity I can capitalize on.
Those people suck to work for and I never want to be anything like that guy.
Tim and Tom Burns - Showed me how they run a successful, even profitable, business that was just an extension of their family and straying from their values never had to be discussed since it wouldn't ever come close to being considered.
Tom teaches business and was good enough to give me a couple lessons for free - on the importance of putting it in writing and how to know when to fire your customers. That was awesome and something I had never seen before, telling a client "No, we don't want your money. There are more important things than money - going home to my family at night without worrying about this job because of you is one of them"
Priceless.
Sweeney and Alan - Another pair, though for the good reasons.
Both of these guys showed me how they actually take care of their people, not just try to make their people feel taken care of. While neither may be the best manager or communicator in the world they were both honest and open enough for me to always know where I stood, what was important to them and what would make them irrationally crazy and they both took the time to know the same about me.
They showed me that their job was to take care of the people that were taking care of them, not just to make sure we were earning our paychecks. That much they trusted us with and because they were looking out for us, we weren't about to let them down.
Both gave me more support, help, guidance and respect as a professional and a person than anyone would ever expect from an employer and I am proud to know both of them, they've given me a high bar to clear in some areas if I'm going to take on this role as someone's boss.
I think we've done ok in that area so far - we take on people not just because they're willing to do the job for free (that would be a Jim/Al move) but because they can be trusted to do the job well and/or to the best of their ability every time..and then we give them the trust and respect to let them do it while we watch their backs and make sure we stop when we have successes to give them thanks.
I don't have to check on Cody at the box office or Matt, Josh or Lipkin in the booth to know that they're going to take care of the place like it was their own and that allows me to take care of my job, which includes finding a way to pay them some day and making sure that if anyone fucks with them, that person will have to answer to me.
to quote Jim Cunningham -
"At some point I was sure every boss I ever worked for had his head up his ass. Now I'm the guy in charge. If I'm doing my job correctly, maybe someday my employees will look at me and be pretty sure I've got my head up my ass."
If we can get there then that means at least we taught them....something
I know these people taught me a few things.
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