It’s a new year, a new beginning.  Many of us experience a renewed sense ofmotivation to better ourselves and make this the best year yet. You hear resolutionslike I’m going to lose weight, start eating healthy, save my money or read more.  A new year is a perfect time to re-center andevaluate the past year and think about where you want to be come year2020. 

In spirit of a new year new you this podcast is going to beabout a bad bosses resolution to be a good boss.  This doesn’t happen immediately or overnight butwith effort and awareness a bad boss can transform themselves into a good bossin 2019. 

I’m a ferocious reader and love to learn but I’ve had to makean effort to channel this in a positive direction.  You see I’m a pathologic overthinker and chronicunder-estimator when it comes to myself. I question my abilities all the time and blame myself for all kinds ofshit that isn’t happening.  Call itanxiety if you will but in a way I credit this to my motivation to be a betterboss. 

I’m going to share what I think is the one question that bosses should embrace and will most always lead to them being revered as a good boss.  Here’s the best part, it’s for all you folks, this question applies to all of us.  After all, the principles and habits of leadership can apply to all of us, that is if we come in contact with other humans during our day. 

So I’m guessing you’re on the hook to practice leadership!

Years of study with a hunger for knowledge to betterunderstand myself and hours of silent reflection and mediation have brought meto this.  The one question that separatesbad bosses from good bosses.  Are youready?  Drum roll please! 

“How do I affect the people around me?”

There it is.  All thosebooks I’ve read, things I’ve written about in my journal, and medicationpractice has brought me to this.  How doI effect the people around me? 

Why do I feel this is the one question that separates thebad bosses from good bosses?  Well it’s simplereally.  It forces us to go deeper thanthe day to day, the logic or reason.  Itbrings us face to face with the human reality within us all.

A boss who makes it a habit to ask this question on a weekly,daily, or hourly basis will start to realize the extent of their ownership ofcircumstances around them.  They willbegin to realize accountability in all situations, because if you’re a part ofa situation, you’re part of the reason it’s either good or bad. 

This question prevents the rampant disease of pointingfingers and placing blame.  It preventsus to think of people as vending machines. We put a dollar in and the vending machine produces quality work with asmile.  Reflecting on our human impact takesus beyond the technical aspects of the workplace and puts us face to face withthe truth that we’re all still human, even when we’re on the clock. 

Often times I think we can forget that no matter how hard wetry, our profession will never trump our humanity and a good boss values thisfact.  A good boss wants people to feellike themselves and that they’re work is in line with who they are, not justwhat they are. 

We’ve all heard the adage, keep your personal life and worklife separate.  I agree with this when itcomes to certain things but when you really think about it, it’s a silly expectation.  It assumes that when we’re on the clock atwork we’re like a bunch of robots and can easily focus on the task at hand andblock outside emotion and distractions. That’s impossible and a good boss knows this.  Yes there are boundaries and expectations butthere’s a way to empat...