My boss does not do anything!

At the beginning of my career as a Lawyer, a big part of my responsibility was to do contracts. Recently graduated and taking a post-graduation on contractual law, I had these beliefs:

• Contracts are the most important thing in the world.
• I`m really good at it, actually the best one.
• My boss (a Legal Director at the time) does not do contracts, so he does not do anything.
• If I leave the company, it will be a huge impact. Who is going to do the contracts?

With time, my career transition from doing contracts to a broader scope, including develop people and manage teams that were doing, among other things, contracts. 

I look back and I think of some contracts that I did in the past, like one to rent chairs for a meeting. (Which I recommended to do and even included an exhibit with the picture of the chair). Many of them added no value to the company nor to the people involved in the process. On the contrary, they added the burden of time, cost and involvement of different people. 

There are contracts that are important and required, of course. That is not the point.

I look back and I cannot recall many agreements that I did (and I did a lot!). But I clearly recall and acknowledge the impact that my managers had on me (personally and professionally). Many of the lessons I learned with them, helped to shape the way I am.

I learned and I keep learning from the people I work with every day. From my team, my managers and all the people that I work with, no matter their jobs and titles.

Luckily, I work with outstanding professionals. I`m good at what I do and I try hard to be better every day. But now, I`m sure I`m not the best. And that is great!

It is great to work with people that are better than me, that know more, that have different skills. I learn with them every day! I get inspired by them!

The beliefs that I had changed. Now, I believe, among other things, that:

• People are truly the most important thing.
• Working with better professionals is great!
• My boss does a lot and has a huge responsibility!
• More important than what you do, is to be open and curious for the importance of what other people do.

Be open. Be curious. Work with people that are better than you. Respect, learn and help the people around you. 

PS: Special thanks to all the managers I had and still have the pleasure to work with.

Rodrigo Exman is passionate about people, development and business. Rodrigo believes in the positive impact of collaboration and a great work. Lawyer by training, people oriented by heart, Rodrigo has more than 15 years of experience in big multinational companies.

*The views expressed in this article are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of my current or past employers.