Power hungry world is always leeching to those who are successful. The more successful you are, the higher you climb, the more people around you want to get you down. Why? It’s the only way they can climb up.
That was an advice given to me by one of my mentors when I was promoted to manager at 23 years old. As young as I was, I didn’t follow his wisdom. Oh, don’t get me wrong. I believe in the dog eat dog business world, in fact, I have seen it a thousand times. I have been backstabbed and thrown under the bus before my colleagues that I thought I could trust. I’m usually left torn and devastated, frustration and feeling betrayed often eat the best of me.
But jaded? No. Called me foolish. But I still believe in the goodness of people. I believe that if you treat someone with kindness, you will get kindness in return. That is how I am built.
Oh yes, I did learn from my mistakes. But instead of pondering people’s intention when they are nice to me, I embrace it and I’ll up their kindness with my own. Blame it on my Chinese roots that I don’t want to owe anyone any favors. I build a defensive wall around me and invite those deserving to enter into my safe cocoon. And when they did, they realize that I’m not a hard-hitting, arrogant manager who only wants power and limelight.
In fact, I take my role as a manager very seriously. I lead with relish that I am impacting knowledge to those willing to learn. I gave my all. Almost the same as my personal relationships, when I love, I love hard. Those in my cocoon get nurtured and protected against the harsh cruel corporate world. I fight for their rights. I get emotional when someone outside my circle tries to be conniving with anyone on my team. One of my bosses nicknamed me as the mommy of my team. I became a mommy even before I had my baby.
But I wasn’t overprotective like a mother hen. I let my team members make mistakes so they can too, learn from them. Rather than allowing them to free fall, they know I’m their safety net, always ready to catch them when they fall. And they did fall, many times. I am always ready to defend their decisions and choices to my management. This is something that sets me apart from other managers.
I don’t avoid conflicts and trouble. I don’t find it a hassle when one of my team makes mistakes that I need to step in to rectify the problem. I love it when they dared to make tough and difficult decisions without consulting me. This means they have grown. You see, to me, it is a duty of a manager, a leader to groom everyone on his team to be a star. You polished every nook and cranny, turning a rock into a diamond.
You teach, mentor, groom and hone them to be the best they can within their abilities. You show them the path but allow them to walk through it themselves. You dealt with disappointment, anguish, and frustration as you see them struggling through the concrete jungle. When they fail, you fail with them. When they are promoted or succeed, you rejoice with them.
I’m never afraid that one day, one of them will usurp my position. I’ll be waiting for the day to come. Because they are my masterpieces. Through them, they are my living legacies.
So no, being selfish and trying to survive on your own in the cruel business world doesn’t work for me. In fact, why not group together to survive together? You scratch my back while I watch your back. Any workplace will instantly become better if we only work alongside with each other instead of scrambling over each other’s head trying to reach the top. There’s no glamour or dignity in being conniving in an already cruel business world.
Instead, think of leaving your footprints in the hearts of people you work with rather than on their ‘dead’ bodies.
Do you think it is a jungle out there? How do you think you can help by making lives around the office desks much better? Doesn’t a warm cheerful greeting every morning lift spirits up? Share with us your thoughts in the comments below.
Do you want to know to become the best boss ever? These are the articles I shared:
Being A Better Boss Is As Easy As 1-2-3
So you want to be a manager….
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When I was a manager, I did as you do, focusing on the professional development of each staff member and on customer service. Sadly, I neglected the egos of upper management, which led to my departure.
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Ah. It does take a lot to balance both ain’t it? One hand I am guiding my team and on other, I’m stroking the ego of my boss.
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I wish you were my boss. Great read
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The highest compliment! Thank you so much!
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Excellently written 👏Your ideas are quite hypothetical for a debate !!
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Thank you so much! I think I open a lot on this post to debate on.
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Well written and you have some wonderful ideas and outlook on life… this world could use more of it, business and non-business… I have not been in the business world but there are some I know, also members of family, and their life is not to be envied… 🙂 I have not had a burning desire to climb ladders but then my idea of success is probably different than most… 🙂
Again, well written and thanks for sharing!.. 🙂
“If I traveled to the end of the rainbow as Dame Fortune did intend, Murphy would be there to tell me the pot’s at the other end.” Ed Koch
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My views on success kept changing as I experiment with different paths in life. Right now, I’d say I’m successful because I don’t have any more wanting with exception to push for the world to be a better place.
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😊❤
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Agree, I believe the humanity is good too. You sound as a great boss. Need more people like you
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Thank you so much for this wonderful compliment by you.
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Dear friend,
I have nominated your for: “The Bloggers Recognition Award”
Participation is voluntary of course.
Here the details:
https://rolandomio.blog/2018/07/26/nominated-for-the-blogger-recognition-award/
All good wishes to you
Roland
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Thank you so much for your generosity and kindness, Roland. I’m so honored to be nominated by you.
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Your welcome Kelly! All the Best! Roland
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Sorry! All the best dear Kally!
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No worries about misspelling my name, Roland. I get it all the time. Haha.
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Thanks Kally!
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Love your heart! Yes kindness(LOVE) conquers!🙂👍🏾 Much continued success to ya!
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Thank you so much, Allen. I try my best to be the best to those around me.
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I would have enjoyed working with you!
In the end “To thy Own Self Be True” is the light shining in our hearts.
Caring for the people entrusted to YOU for leadership, is the greatest privilege of management.
Continued Blessings my friend,
Patrick
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Same here. We would have made a wonderful team, you and I. Blessings to you and your loved ones, Patrick.
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I also still believe in the goodness of people!
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Good for you!
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Just amazing. So deep n beautifully described . I am so enlightened by just reading it. You are definitely a great soul of wisdom and experience ,a great manager for sure.
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Thank you so much for your comment and welcome to MiddleMe!
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