Good Boss, Bad Boss Part I

Years ago when I worked for a company in LA we got in a new boss from Chicago to reorganise the office. He was a bit younger than I, had a reputation of being the no-nonsense sort, and took over a sizable operation-which definitely needed hands-on leadership.

I was one of the senior sales people, and had a good portfolio of my own business. He was the regional MD, and I did not have a direct line to him, but he got himself heavily involved with the sales-he needed to. He was a bull…non-stop work, never home to see his fiancee, had a temper which I was soon to be on the receiving end….the tenor in the office was apprehensive.

I learned more from him in the time we worked together than any other boss I had, although it took me a while to come around to appreciate him. What made him a Good Boss?

He was honest.

If he didn’t like something, he’d immediately drag you in to his office, and say so-privately And if he liked what you had done, he’d let everyone know, with a Cheshire-cat like smile.

He gave people the benefit of the doubt. But only once.

My counterpart at the time was a very very slick sales guy. The Boss was convinced that he was scamming his sales calls, and figured out his game. He had the sales guy write down, daily, which clients he had visited, when and for what. The Boss called them up to see how they were being serviced, convinced my colleague was lying. But my slick colleague outfoxed him; each client said he had been there to visit, they were very happy with the service, with him, and so forth. The Boss publicly apologised to him. But he was nailed later on, as he could not outsmart the Boss more than once- it took over a year, but he nailed him.

He supported his team fearlessly.

If he believed in you and your abilities, he’d empower you-quickly. Even if you weren’t convinced, he was. And once you get the nod to go for it, you’re much less likely to let the Boss down.

He had strategic patience.

I remember waiting in line to go into his office. He’d be sitting at his desk, pulling out staples with a staple remover( I think that pacified him) while downing a bottle of Pepto Bismol, glare at me and say “What the f–k do you want?” Can’t you see how f—g busy I am?” I soon learned that was how he was with those liked, and if you needed the time legitimately, he’d listen and talk. Those that he didn’t respect just never got into the office..They soon left on their own, he seldom had to fire anyone. They knew.

He kept his word.

If he said he would do something, he would, whether a bonus or a firing. But once he had outlined what he was going to do, he would. It wasn’t fail-proof, but it was predictable.

He earned respect.

He knew the business, worked hard at it, and was in the trenches with the troops, which he liked- and expected the same of others–not insane hours, but an honest day’s work. He won over most of the skeptics by doing what he was good at.

He tried to help those who wanted help, and even those who didn’t want it (me).

He was not a coach, and would have laughed if anyone had called him that. But if he thought you were capable of moving ahead, he would tell you point blank you would have to do A,B, and C and how to position it. I was one of the ones he sat down with. But I didn’t have enough common sense to listen, and thought I’d skate by through my natural charm..

He created a few enemies.

Maybe a few, maybe more, I don’t remember. Not because he was a monster, but that he had his ideas and opinions, and said so. If everyone loves the boss, something is wrong.. More importantly, not all his enemies remained as such..

 

I didn’t come to realise how much I had learned from the Good Boss until years later. He was viewed in many ways a tyrant and a taskmaster, reveled in his ability to intimidate. I came to see it was mostly show. If you delivered, he was your champion. If not, you took the hint and moved on.

I can say it now, but couldn’t then, if he’d asked me to jump 50 feet I would have done so.

I left him for another competitor and to make more money. My new Boss was someone who had left when the Good Boss arrived. He was a friend, and remained a good friend, but turned out to be a bad boss.

Next blog… The Bad Boss.

Written by Neal Horwitz, MD of Henry Hale Maguire