Letter to My Boss

Dear Friends,

I just want to share something about "What Makes a Good Boss?". Well, a lot of wise people says that there are some attributes for the best boss:
- Fair - Honest - Understanding - Approachable - A good communicator

And we are bosses of our own life (for sure)... anyway... but how to dealing positively with a "bad" boss that can bring unexpected benefits --
Current Case:
For sure - I'm only a guardian dog in small group of smart people, and I try to lead this smart people in my department. I've read a book about "Plain Talk About Leadership", and I wish my boss would read this as well. He's a terror and has absolutely no people skills. He rules with threats and intimidation. Everybody has the feeling that any one of us would be stabbed in the back if the company would benefit in some way. Even if we're able to tolerate this ongoing browbeating, we fear that we'll, be caught in the next round of layoffs.

People in my department are more productive and happier than most in the company (I think), but the horrible environment around us tends to overshadow everything I do. I have begun to question whether a 'people approach' to leadership is realistic in today's dog-eat-dog corporate world.

It seems that each week our company becomes more and more numbers focused and less and less people oriented. We've lost many good people because of this hostile atmosphere. I've considered leaving myself but haven't done so because of my team and passion of this industry. As you can imagine, morale is horrible.
What can one lowly guardian dog like me do to lead in a positive manner in a company that doesn't care about its people? Anybody can help me out?

Heart to heart:
Well after reflecting in the mirror -- I have also some answers for above case....
It may be of little consolation, but above case indicate that I am only one of many who experience this type of work environment. The most important point for me to remember is: It's not me! It's not my behavior that is causing my boss to fuss and fume. It is simply a style of leadership, an approach that's unlikely to change, even if he or she reads above statement about "What Makes a Good Boss?". This intimidating form of leadership somehow has brought this person to a senior management level, so why change?

Throughout my career that I will have many bosses-some good, some bad. Most people tell me, and my own experience confirms it, that during my career, I'll have more bad bosses than good ones. But somehow, I can learn from all of them. Everyone has leadership traits that I may wish to emulate-and leadership traits that I will want to avoid.

Again, when I am forced to deal with my boss's angry outbursts, don't become emotionally involved. I just simply remember, it's not me. Imagine that I am watching a TV movie. Listen carefully to the message. Watch the ways the character gets the message across. The threats and intimidation don't matter. It's just a movie-only this one I can't turn off. Some movie characters I like; some I don't like. But all of them make life interesting. And being exposed to such characters in real life helps strengthen us to endure the day-to-day challenges that all of us face.

Once I understand the situation, I am learning to carry out the instructions in my own way. Use the friendly, communicative, enthusiastic leadership style that I often discuss among team. Chances are that the people who report to me know what I am going through. I think - they'll appreciate my running interference for them and will be especially responsive to my novice leadership skill.

Message for this:
Chances are that your boss won't be your boss forever. He or she may retire, may be fired by the board because of his or her offensive treatment of people or, who knows, may be promoted. With excellent leadership skills, the new "big boss" could be you. Certainly if conditions are so distasteful that you can't endure another day on the job, you may wish to make a job change, but be very cautious. The odds are about seven out of ten that your new "big boss" will be as bad as the old one.

I agree that the fear of layoffs has an. adverse effect on people. While necessary in a few instances (if a company can't meet its Friday payroll, there may be no choice), in most cases layoffs weaken companies. When a layoff is threatened, many employees brush off their resumes. Some will initiate an active job search even before they know whether or not they will be affected. If opportunities arise, many jump ship. The ones who don't move are so paralyzed that they can't give their full attention to serving customers. Productivity almost certainly slows as morale begins to freefall.

Again - be your own boss and motivate yourself!