Some Thoughts About Bosses, Managers, and Owners

Let's consider bosses, including managers and owners. Some of us may be in this category; some just worker bees. Experience dictates that these two "castes" need not be totally separate and/or opposed; but they frequently are.

First, recognize that a boss, when acting in in that capacity, deserves respect with deference to his or her authority. Yes, "authority" - a concept that's been shunted off into the fringes of many of our contemporary minds. You see it most glaringly in parents who refuse to accept that they carry the weight of authority when dealing with their children. Too many children run the show. Correction and punishment for words and behaviors that are wrong or inappropriate have become rare. We don't want to "inhibit" the poor creatures, do we.

Besides, doling out punishments can be an unpleasant task for those who are stuck in the mindset of being "friends" with their children. Not that we should be unfriendly towards the blessed creatures formed in the image and likeness of God, but indeed we are not friends. We are parents. And just as Our Father in Heaven deserves our deference to His Authority, so too our children need to learn to defer to our authority. And we parents need to accept the sometimes daunting responsibility given us to raise our children as children of God, created to know, love, and serve Him. The very thought of this may be somewhat daunting. But how else can we expect our children to eventually spend eternity happy in Heaven?

So, there's the "weight" of authority.

Of course, a boss's authority doesn't weigh as heavily. But nevertheless, authority carries weight.

From the perspective of the worker bee, it's good to realize this. After all, with some luck, some of us worker bees have bosses who understand this and behave in a manner consistent with it. They wield their authority carefully and considerately and therefore deserve our consideration in response. How many? Are these rare or common? Perhaps our individual experience provides answers specific to each of us. But in any case, we should consider this and respond appropriately to the boss who takes his authority seriously, as something that brings with it the weight of responsibility.

More so, this weight includes the idea of the boss as servant. Yes, servant. The boss, like all of us, first serves God. But he or she also serves those who serve under him or her. It's a two way street, this idea of service. How many bosses get this? Those who don't tend to be the "bad" bosses who are sprinkled (or dumped!) on us throughout our working years. For them it's a one way street: Do what I say! For the "good" boss, there's give and take.

Our dear St. Benedict has much to say about this in his Rule. When he speaks of the Abbot, you can easily see how any boss can be seen in the same light. 

If a boss reads the Rule habitually he or she will learn to focus more on their charges. Treat each person in accord with their capabilities, their personalities, especially as related to age and temperament. There's no one size fits all. Of course, this requires attention, dedicated effort, and does not allow for offhand, especially not lazy, actions and reactions. The goal is to exert one's authority in a manner that will be considerate of the individual but nevertheless be comfortable and effective in wielding authority.

If the vast number of bosses you have worked for are not quite functioning this way, you're not alone. Most, of course, don't read the Rule. And most are like most of us: self-centered. So we can't be too judgmental here. We might even pray for such folks, that they somehow occasionally crawl out of themselves. This may not produce the change we desire, or at least not in the time-frame we prefer, but it would certainly be an act of charity. It would also help quell the natural resentment that may cause us to be wrapped up in ourselves and our emotions and our perception of being treated shabbily.

Then again, the grapevine tells me that in today's world, the boss may be dealing with employees who simply have no concept of authority. And that lack of awareness results in an unruly relationship with those who constantly harp on how the boss is offending them and how dare they!

More on this next time...