Member-only story
The best boss I ever had
And why it’s more important than ever to kill management
I was a 24 year old engineer, fresh-faced, the world being my oyster. Clearly entitled. Clearly a diversity hire at an american company in Germany because female electrical engineers from Africa aren’t necessarily popping up at every street corner.
My first boss’s name was Miguel. If only I knew back then that in a career now spanning 15+ years how elusive a good boss was going to be I’d soak up even more of his genius.
He taught me how to be a professional. How to do my best work in a corporate setting, how to garner respect, how to forge camaraderie, how to advance professionally without losing my soul.
He spoke very little. But when he spoke the whole room listened. When he came to a conclusion everyone took it on as a marching order. I haven’t seen another manager inspire so much trust and respect since.
The pandemic of poor bosses
The number one reason people get disgruntled at work isn’t because the work is uninteresting, unchallenging or lacks purpose, although all those reasons are very valid ones for people to quit.
The number one reason people quit is because of poor managers.
