The view from the top can be pretty lonely at times or so I have heard. When you are the boss, director, leader or manager then you are in a position whereby you have power and visibility. People look up to you and expect that you know something or see something that they don’t.
And that fact sometimes is right and at other times it is far from the truth. But at the end of the day the person who leads you, directs you or just generally bosses you around is still human. They have hopes, dreams, desires and a spirit that wants to excel at what they are doing. And guess what? They have emotions and feelings too. And while they may be getting paid a lot more than you do – money only actually accounts for so much.
Financial reward does provide a buffer to some of the stresses and strains of everyday management but metaphorical sticks and stones do exist. And people call you names and say things about you – both to your face and behind your back. There are no secrets really. If someone is saying things about or spreading rumours you can pretty much count on hearing about them – usually sooner rather than later. Sometimes the people talking may be above you and often it is the people who are under you.
Which begs the question – which is worse? Which hurts more? Being trodden on from above or being struck from below? In my view I think getting “hit” either way is pretty tough. So what do you need when this sort of thing is happening? You need SUPPORT.
Support is defined as being the following -
sup·port tr.v. sup·port·ed, sup·port·ing, sup·ports
support” (Shakespeare).
What your manager, director, leader or boss needs rom you the most above everything else can be summed in two key things -
- Work hard. Give it everything you’ve got. Don’t hold back. Leave no stone unturned and no task undone.
- Have their back and the same for the rest of your team. Let no one criticise anyone you work with.
Providing support to your boss in even a banal way such as chocolates or telling them you appreciate them can make all the difference to that persons day. The way same way it does to yours.
