So, I didn’t start following this subreddit until I became a manager. A “boss,” if you will. Here is the thing: I don’t want to be a manager or a boss. I want to be a leader.
So when I come here and see what some of the worst “management” and leadership looks like, I often ask myself “do I do this?” “Is this how I come across?”
I think work is a necessary evil right now, if only because there is no political will yet in the higher echelons of governance. I think we could theoretically move to a post sacristy economy within the next century. Do I think it’s probable? No. But it is possible.
So in the meantime I do my best to be a good leader. I work to understand my crew’s point of view, I include them in (almost) all of my decisions, and while I may have to follow through on consequences for poor behaviors or performance, I do my damndest to make sure what happened was truly inexcusable or that I wouldn’t get myself in trouble for letting something slide.
Reading the posts here really illustrate what NOT to do from a leadership standpoint more so than any training I received through my company.
I don’t get why it’s so hard to say “alright, feel better” and then operate with the understanding that the individual isn’t coming in. Calling in sick when you are sick isn’t something someone should be punished for.
“My aunt is in town, I need tonight off.” “Oh, okay, have fun! Thanks for the heads up!” Isn’t so hard; it just means I’m going to have to fill a role myself to get the job done.
“I am quitting.” “Okay, I’m sorry to hear that. I would prefer we had two weeks notice, but I certainly can’t stop you.” That’s not hard to say at all. No shaming. No guilting. I don’t owe them that, and they don’t own the company anything either. The time has just come to an end. Heck, when I’ve said that in the past about the preferring two weeks, we can open a dialogue and maybe they will postpone their departure, but it’s never my intent.
Sorry. Rambling. I just wanted to say thank you for collecting examples of the worst of the worst. Not all of us are suited to fighting for big changes; some of us excel at small, incremental changes in the system, and those can only happen if we open our eyes to the problems.