My Boss is a Nice Man

I really like my boss. What? I know… In some circles, such a phrase is tantamount to heresy. But hear me out. I was reading an article on LinkedIn about likeable leaders the other day, when I was reminded of a recent conversation at work. A colleague of mine was telling us the story of how his partner had rear-ended someone on the way to her work the previous morning, and then followed it up by reversing into someone else in a car park on the way home. Now, there were a couple of “Oh, no” looks, but the general shape of comments were along the lines of “full set”, “house!”, and “bad day then!”. Sarcastic, but friendly/well-intentioned. Until it came to our boss, that is. And here’s the bit where he showed an example of the crucial difference he makes to our business: over the course of the very few minutes that it took to relate the story, he made only three comments — “Is she alright?”, “Is the other person alright?”, and “Is she upset?” The answers were yes, yes, and only a little, in case you were curious. But whilst we’re all making jokes at her expense (albeit in good jest), he was almost at pains to establish that the human cost was low. He’s genuinely concerned — about us, about our partners, about all aspects of the company he runs. The cynic within would suggest that perhaps he’s just being canny. Finding a way to bond, gain trust for when he asks for the extra mile’s worth of effort. But I don’t actually believe that, because for him it’s a natural response. It’s just the way he is.

It’s a good leader that expresses these things naturally. Without trying, he breeds empathy and concern within our working environment.