Atypical boss and subordinate conversation

Bill Bowerman office door

 

(photo: Co-founder of Nike, Bill Bowerman was also the USA’s head track coach for 1972 Munich Olympics – he used his wife’s waffle iron to custom make running shoe soles… and make them lighter than the store bought ones)

Subordinate: My job is to be the deepest thinker in the classroom.

Boss: Quietly listening. (unsure if what she just heard makes sense)

Subordinate: I work with CEO’s, executive teams, front one employees… everyone in an organization. My job is to rattle the cage so to speak. To get people to think differently. If they walk out thinking the same way they walked in, we didn’t need to have the class.

Boss: … (still no verbal response)

Boss: … (thinks her subordinate is a zealot, says nothing)

Everyone in big brand organizations talks about demanding excellence.

Few people, at any level, actually do it.

Why?

Because it makes others uncomfortable.

This is especially true for front line employees. They have no power to lead the way. Bosses feel uncomfortable when a subordinate is working above reproach.

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Every morning jeff writes five different, short, and pithy posts about the challenging and wonderful balance between:

mind • body • spirit • work • home

All five websites are seamlessly connected by a convenient and easy to click link to go to the next topic.

Try it below if you never done it, or if it’s been awhile.

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Should we stay or should we go?

digital quote
Old school is not funny, it’s sad.

 

In the same way that we used to never be able to have our mobile devices powered on during take-off and landing, so too will many other notions fall.

A great leader is an early adopter.

A good leader waits.

The difference, is, well, very different in creating a team of (leaders) people filled with creativity and innovation or (followers) people filled with a wait and see work ethic.

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There is an exception to nearly every rule, including this one

Inspiring Buddist quote
There is an exception to nearly every rule, including this one.

 

Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will. – unknown

While we show up for work for 40-50 years, we are also bringing our whole person with us.

Who leads us if we have a boss?

Many of us unconditionally believe that there is a God and a higher power or spirit.

Some of us even go as far as to say Jesus is the Son of God.

It is this notion that there is a Father, a Son, and a Holy Spirit that nothing can change for devout Christians.

While the only constant is change, for them the only exception is Jesus.

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Fear is a highway, but began as a footpath

NYC freeway on a Sunday afternoon
Life (and fear) is a highway

 

Fear in the professional world is so thick, it nearly chokes us.

It’s good to be able to identify it in others.

Why? To help us see the early signs in ourselves, and slay it before it chokes us.

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