Great Boss

I've seen a lot of posts on LinkedIn about leadership, people management, and how to be (or not be) a great leader. I don't read those because I already know from the example my boss sets what makes a great leader, and it is not something easily put into a list of 5 or 10 bullet points. It is something deeply ingrained in their psyche, and they are great leaders without consciously thinking about it or having to study lists of what someone else thinks makes a great leader.

Here is how I can best sum it up: I get more than just a few phone calls every month that go something like this:

Caller: "Hey Byron, are you still reporting to the same boss?"

Me: "Yes"

Caller: "Oh".    Drawn out awkward silence...... "Well, never mind then. I was calling to see if you'd be interested in a position with us that would be right in your wheelhouse, but if you're still reporting to the same boss, never mind. I know you're not interested."

Me: "Yeah, but thanks for thinking of me and good luck filling your opening."

I tell folks often that I have absolutely the best job in the world, and trust me, I've had more than my share of crap jobs, so I know of what I speak here. I LOVE the work I do. I LOVE my boss. And I'm compensated fairly for what I do. I feel like I've hit the trifecta.

So......thank you Valent, and thank you Alan Kennedy for being the truly gifted leader you are and for giving me the freedom to operate that I need to perform.

My point here is this: You can read all the leadership posts you want, but in my mind the true mark of a great leader is when the competitors recognize that as long as you are still reporting to him (or her), there is zero chance you'd be interested in doing anything else.