Why are bosses in the positions they hold? “The most nonsense questions any one claiming to possess complete upstairs machinery can ask!” you might say. But then whenever expiations and reality fail to be on the same plane you are pardoned to go a little offline asking ‘nonsense’ questions. The conventional wisdom is or has been whenever anyone gets a higher position in their line of work, family and friends feel happy. “Did you hear? Our guy has been promoted to the position of a CEO!” ‘Hip! Hip! Hooray!’ the applause comes in drove, and rightly so.
These days being a boss at higher levels by itself is not much of a story. Sitting you frame in that mammoth leather chair which seems to be sinking forever is not much of a story. It is the actual performance of ‘Dear Mr. Boss’ that should matter. When only the heavy leather chairs and the expensive four wheel drives are taken as the measures of success, when the movement up and up the ladder of the bureaucracy is taken as sort of legitimate ‘prize’ that’s where the real problems start coming from all corners. No wonder; when our ‘new boss’ forgets he was placed in that position for good and very important reasons and continues to practice how to display that air of importance, that inclination of being among the ‘VVIP untouchables’ the very crucial tasks of making their workers more industrious and productive and boosting the dynamism and profit-making ability.
Acting ‘bossy’ meaning, the multi-folded foreheads and the frowns which come and go according to which rung on the ladder one might be and the usual “He’s not available..” shield that keeps people out of the office while they are enjoying those flirtingly conspiratorial phone calls aren’t about being good at management. Those good at managing the organization they have been entrusted with take themselves out of the suffocating box of strikingly furnished and carpeted office and strive for higher elevations for their organizations and staff. That’s what they do, trying to achieve the higher level of productivity and growth. We’d like to believe that bosses, wherever they are, are given the posts because of the belief that they are the right choices for the posts. That of course should be how things should be going.
Now, there are good, even excellent, bosses in many places. Of course such bosses who are confident about what they do and really deliver on their vow of doing their best are usually far from the spotlight where there is much commotion these days. After all, every one of us seem to be clamoring to wriggle our way through the commotion and put ourselves in the spotlight we have nothing to prove we deserve to be in any light alone the spotlight. They don’t talk; they work. But unfortunately there are many who force you to pose a hundred and one questions the outstanding one being “How in the world did they give the guy such an important post?” That’s what many of us ask these days when faced mistreatment in places.
“Can I Help You?” Talking about service rendering that should be the most important phrase you, as the client, would like to hear, isn’t it? Even if the smile is nonexistent the words would speak volumes for themselves. Someone seems to be ready to help you in any way they can. Isn’t that one of the greatest things to happen to you these days?
More and more when we tend to generalize it isn’t because we’re pessimists. It isn’t because we’re the types who always look for the tiny black spot ignoring the white expanse which could cover a whole soccer field. It is because we run into so much mistreatment in many offices and not because we’re bent at picking only the wrong side things. In recent months a few friends had nasty run-ins with employees of certain organizations. Forget the “Can I help you?” thing and they faced employees who weren’t willing to take up their cases and listen them out. Now, those employees are there exactly for that, to serve clients who come with cases to be needing intervention of the respective organizations.
Now whatever mistreatment clients suffer at the lower levels mostly goes down to bad or incompetent management, doesn’t it? Most of the organizations which fail to realize their ‘annual plan of actions’ find themselves in such sorry positions because of weak management. When the rank and file know that their management is weak-kneed and they are sure they would not face any disciplinary action you can imagine the atmosphere that would reign in the whole origination. Months back we talked about the gentleman who decided his fight for fair treatment to higher levels with the comment “I’m a tax payer!” And they said that prompted the loudest of laughs. That’s how bizarre things are these days.
But then there is this tendency (or is it a strategy!) of the managerial brass washing their hands clean of whatever happens. “The workers are the lazy, all they do is talk, talk, talk!” Even in financial institutions where the highest form of professionalism should be in evidence there are more than a few times where you feel that you’re not being treated like you should be. The guy behind the counter is so uncooperative he makes it appear you’re there begging what is not yours! Someone should have told him that you the customer are the ones paying his salary.
But that guy has bosses at higher levels. If you wish it’s your right to report him to his immediate boss or knock even bigger doors. That should be the place where all the riddles would have their final answers. But then what should be and what is are usually miles apart. You make it all the way to whoever is at the top.
“So what is the problem?”
You tell your problem. The boss says that you should have settled it at the junior managerial level and. “Well sir, I’ve talked to all responsible down the line and none of them is willing to help me.” Now the boss should be all ears and ask, “What do you mean they aren’t willing to help you?” You tell him all the reactions most of which are meant to protect the guys who made the initial mistakes. No he isn’t that curious a boss; and that is the kind boss we’d have liked to avoid in times when there is no space or time for complacency and when the highest form of passion and compassion is needed form every soul.
Time to separate the real bosses from the performers!
Ephrem Endale Contributer
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SUNDAY EDITION 17 SEPTEMBER 2023
