Some Thoughts About Bosses, Managers, and Owners - 2

Let's continue our thoughts about bosses, managers, and owners of businesses.

We left off with the situation where bosses face reactions from employees that, frankly, have been built up over years of that "woke" stuff we've all encountered. Such people take offense at any perceived slight. They'll go so far as to claim racial bias, so-called gender bias, emotional distress (over anything they consider "offensive"), etc. It almost makes one grateful not be given the responsibility of being a boss.

And that brings us to the responsibility that comes with authority. 

A quick recap of that discussion might simply be that authority is not an outmoded concept or something we should rebel against. Legitimate authority calls us to obey. So we who work under someone's supervision should not shy away from the concept of obedience.

The flip side of this is that we recognize that if we are given authority in the end what we are given is not simply power, but responsibility. Yes, there can be a component of power. But that power is not power over others. If we think this way, we are self-centered. And as in all matters where we act strictly according to what we desire, there's a touch - or likely more - or pride mixed in. And pride taints any vestige of legitimate authority. We no longer act on behalf of our company. We make it a personal thing. Worse, if we somehow get a charge out of telling others what to do and watching them comply, we have strayed far from the bounds of legitimate authority and stepped into the cross-hairs of the Evil One. 

Exaggeration? No. Seriously.

So as bosses it's our responsibility now to execute our office properly. To assist us in this, we need clear goals and objectives to guide us. We need consideration of the capabilities and personalities of those whom we direct. (We mentioned this last time in the context of the Rule of St. Benedict, specifically in his instructions to the Abbot's rule over his monks.) The more we can take the role of boss out of the orbit of our personal interest, the better. Ideally we manage a complete separation of the role from ourselves. We execute our duties diligently without consideration of our personal needs or feelings. If we can manage to achieve our objectives and help those whom we supervise to execute their responsibilities in a peaceful, orderly environment, we will have accomplished much. If we fall short of this, then each day brings us the challenge to improve.

Flipping back to those who work for or under a boss's supervision, we need to see our boss for who he or she really is. On our end, just as the boss needs to understand our capabilities and personalities, so should we do the same in their regard. Each boss is an individual. Each is charged with some level of responsibility. And if they are sincerely trying to live up to that responsibility, and not abusing their authority, then it behooves us to assist them in executing their duties properly. 

At its most superficial level, we would be wise to know our boss and anticipate their moods and habits. Sheer self-preservation makes this a wise choice. But there's not particular merit - as in spiritual merit - in this. We need to take this up a notch.

Knowing out boss best we can, we realize that they, like us, have a personal life that brings its own responsibilities. For example, if they have a family to raise, and that family happens to be a large one, then its likely they feel pressure to perform well so as a) to be sure to retain their job; b) perhaps to advance in their role to be better compensated to help meet at the very least the financial pressures that raising a family entails. 

And if we have our own family, that alone puts us in the same camp, doesn't it?

We really don't need many more examples to spur us towards understanding the boss better. Doing so will at least help us to avoid judging what may seem quirky or exaggerated behaviors. More importantly, it will help us to discount whatever is attributed to personality and simply focus on our end - the diligent performance of our duties, our responsibilities.

Having worked for enough quirky bosses, it's clear that once we get beyond the quirks, we'll easily see whether they are wielding their authority in a responsible manner.

As for situations where it's clear there's abuse of authority, then certainly we can respond to this in a prudent manner. Naturally, we want to protect ourselves from such abuse. And naturally we want to tread lightly especially when said quirky boss somehow has free reign to behave as they want. 

With all that, perhaps our attempt to parse through how bosses do and should behave will prove helpful to both boss and 'them who's bossed.'

In the end, we want to do our best to remain at peace, and to both boss or be bossed in a manner that helps us to grow closer to God. That's all that really matters in the end. 


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