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Yes BOSS!
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Bosses of the world, unite, you have nothing to lose but your chair.
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HE SHOULD have the cutting edge. He should also possess a sense of commitment, drive and a passion for performance. He should push harder, make things happen and get things done. Yet he has to be warm, approachable and down-to-earth. Tough for an individual to be all of this? Unquestionably yes; but this is what one expects from a boss.
Being the boss or a company head is everybody's dream. Many embark on their careers with a mixture of ambition and idealism. But once promoted all the way to the top life on plush, swivelling chairs is no merry-go-round. For not only do they find it fatiguing to enjoy the new status with all its trappings, but just staying there with a clear and level head seems increasingly arduous even for the most well intentioned leaders. Many feel that something happened on the way and get disillusioned. Handful is those lucky ones who have the time to enjoy and flaunt their status.
At the receiving end
Days of the armchair bosses in swanky offices is history. With hoisted shirtsleeves today's managers and executives have to work in the forefront among the rest. Yet, due to provocation and stress many of them are a beleaguered lot often at the receiving end. Thus most often they find it very hard to do what is right. Wondering how to be compassionate and stern at the same time, many administrators instead of leading often feel they are being led.
Switching roles often, it is a turbulent and highly volatile setting. Pleasing everybody from superiors to clients and subordinates forms an arduous tightrope walk, which upsets their mental equilibrium. Swayed by every other voice except his own he often feels he has no say in most matters. The complaints of the clients and the unjustified screams of the superiors add fuel to the fire.
Sleepless nights
Often nothing seems to go right. Sometimes after a successful compromise at a board meeting over which many sleepless nights were spent, he decides to put up his feet on the table for a breather only to find trade union members knocking at his suite with a host of impractical demands. The common accusation hurled at him when things misfire is, "you are the boss, and how could you let this happen?"
Lonely at the top?
Hence for many the path is often lonely, wide and formidable. On certain days even a smile is difficult. He does not know who his friends are and often feels everybody cashing in on his vulnerability. Pleasing one often hurts another. Subordinates too sometimes do not spare him for even they are known to take advantage, by feigning ignorance or acting indifferent when a report is urgently required.
In company
However, for him the only consolation is he is not alone. For looking around he finds there are many other Directors, Managers etc who are tossed turbulently in the same boat uttering silent screams.
Corporate warrior
It may require nerves of steel to combat this. However, professional veterans feel that there is no better training ground than this for aspirants to climb the corporate ladder of success. For if one has the grit, the pluck, strength of character and of course good luck to face things with poise he would emerge as a seasoned corporate warrior ready to face more challenges. Problems, dilemmas and predicaments are part of working life. And problems according to experts open the doors to many opportunities. However, a clear head is crucial for even a mountainous problem turns to a molehill once your are free from stress.
Restraint and poise
Thus maintaining self-control and equipoise to survive in today's corporate jungle come what may is an important requisite. A grumbling, cursing boss who uses foul language is seldom respected. Neither is one whose mind instead of focussing on work is dominated by revenge on subordinates and colleagues. A true leader rises above such petty and mundane matters.
To ease things in future harrowed and retired CEOs feel that tomorrows leaders need a tough preparatory course on the demands and provocations they face once they arrive in the executive suite. For those forces are still powerful enough to drag even the most sincere and genuine leaders.
Take heart
And finally a message from experts for those bosses, who work with a sense of true commitment but still feel unjustly harrowed, is to take heart. You have given your best, they advise. Continue doing so with patience and perseverance. Be optimistic and hope for the best. You will reap your fruits and get your deserved dues ultimately. Be optimistic and hope for the best. For tomorrow is yet another day.
HEMJIT BHARATHAN
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