Is Your Boss a Good Boss?

An older Seth Godin post caught my attention this week. He points out that we do not realize how much we need a good boss until we do not have one. While I question that anyone ultimately needs a boss. For those of you successful entrepreneurs, like Seth, you are the great boss.

Anyway, here is his list of things that he feels we understand about good bosses (with some of my annotations):

Bosses organize your time for you.
(I don’t agree with this. They can help mentor you with time management; however,?Ǭ† they rarely are good at organizing your time, let alone their own time)

Bosses decide what’s urgent.
(Yes, this our job and it makes your life so much easier)

Bosses give you cover when you work on something stupid (”she told me to!”)
(This is my favorite. Your boss should shield you from all the stupid political nonsense)

Bosses pay you even when the client doesn’t honor the invoice.
(This mentality keeps many people trapped in corporate America when they should be out on their own. Yes? )

Bosses can be sued.
(Not if they work for a company with good legal counsel)

Bosses create deadlines, and stick with them.
(Yep, a good boss demonstrates consistency)

Bosses make sure you show up in the morning.
(Lol, not me)

Bosses pay for the Postits.
(Give up those useless over-priced things and use index cards)

Bosses give you someone to complain about.
(Well, I’d like to think you would not see the need to complain about a good boss.)

Bosses carve up the work and give you just that piece you signed up to do.

(Yep, right on!)

Bosses give you a role model.
(If your boss is really good, this is so true)

A toast to good bosses!