Since my first job at 16, I've been willing and eager to look up to my managers. At the time I felt surrounded by kids who downright disregarded the words and wishes of anyone claiming authority over them, and I never really felt that way. My young nubile psyche anticipated managers to be the golden standard, willing to help and spur their people and their business on to success! I have the honor of possessing a terrific set of parents who instilled many excellent qualities in my upbringing and I've always seen my superiors at work or school as variations of what parents should be. I believe its the job of a manager, parent or professor to teach, govern, and lead with a firm but honorable hand. As I'm writing it, I'm realizing those are qualities I'd want in a reigning monarch so I'll use king or queen as another example. Viewing them as my actual superiors, however, and willing as I am to look up to them, I've developed a few expectations about what I believe is the proper deportment and behavior of a leader.
If you are a manager or a professor or a librarian, you should be held to a higher standard than applies to those beneath you. Much of management is a matter of reflection. No one respects a king who hides away while his people are dying, or ignores their calls for help and understanding. It's completely unfair and inappropriate for a manager to point at a task they themselves have never done (or would not do) and expect complete adherence to the work at hand. Any soldier wants to know he is supporting a worthy cause: bringing his best for a just and admirable reason. The manager (the general!) must be willing to be the flag at the front line. It is his responsibility to show pride in the workmanship and the people who perform for him. This is achieved by a healthy positive attitude. I've been in the workforce long enough to appreciate those managers who enter the building each day with hope and pride. Most people feel negative enough at work after spending the day balancing the pressures of responsibility. This is when the difference between an employer and an employee becomes truly evident: it really isnt an employees responsibility to uplift the spirits of the team leader. It is the leaders task to maintain their own integrity, and appreciate the things that go right. The best manager I ever worked for always made a point to say "Thank you!" before anyone left for the night and it made all the difference in the attitudes of her employees. Workers will always respond to gratitude. They, like children, are working for the approval and appreciation of their parents or teachers and also like children, need to be assured of their value. I truly believe in the power of words, and I think its undeniable that any worker who only hears from their leader what an unsatisfactory job they're doing will never be able to (or even want to) improve their quality of performance. Without encouragement, any spark of fervor or loyalty will die. Work will become only that - work - and everything the establishment could have been will crumble in the aftermath of internal struggle and discontent.
I do believe there is a place for camaraderie between the supervisor and employee. In fact, a job where the boss didnt understand how to jive with his staff would hardly be worth the money! However I do not condone becoming involved to the point where it affects the organization. We are humans, and with that label comes a whole slew of unintentional emotional blunders (Misunderstood comments, accidentally shared secrets, favors distributed based on personal friendship rather than merit). These are all the same genre of unprofessionalism from which it is an executives responsibility to exclude themselves. Many companies have rules about being friends on social media, or about spending time with employees outside of work: the purpose of these is to maintain the image of someone to be revered as a guide and leader. Which are you more likely to respect? Someone who puts themself on the shallow level of those coworkers I know you have, or someone who holds themself to a standard of decorum and pragmatism in the face of juvenile antics and laziness?
Set aside any personal grievances and "leave it all at the door", as they say. Labor in almost any industry is stressful. There's much room for error, especially if the team is poorly trained or in any other way ill-equipped to do the job. Mistakes do happen and the response from the Chief should never be to place blame. Pointing fingers is a petty behavior, not an action worthy of a king. A benevolent leader resolves issues in a calm manner, understanding that he is the emblem and the face of the country, company or classroom. Observing the mistakes and assuming the blame without question, like a math teacher who throws out the test and reteaches the chapter because every single one of the kids failed. It wasnt that they failed to learn, it is the professor who failed to teach.
It's on you, boss. It's up to you to bring the inspiration. It's up to you to make those who slave for minimum wage understsnd how important they are as the foundation and backbone of the whole operation. Without them there would be nothing. A king is not a ruler of an empty, failing, desperate kingdom: he's just a guy.
