Why Having A Good Boss A Real Blessing?

What came first, the chicken or the egg? Over the course of my own career, I learned it the “hard way”. For me, it has always been more important to report to a good boss at a smaller organisation than a bad boss at a renowned one. In real life situations, what happens to a typical job seeker? The candidate reads through job ad. S/he thinks: “The closer I fit the job description, the more likely I’ll get hired.” To me, that kind of thinking is counterproductive to our careers. Yes, to be invited for an interview, our skills and experiences must be aligned with the job descriptions but that’s not all.

What about being aligned with our future bosses? Shouldn’t finding a stellar boss be our foremost priority? A million-dollar question is how do we get to know about our future bosses much before we accept our new jobs? I am sure that there are ways where we can derive this information i.e. during the interview process, through reading their LinkedIn Profile, through our own contacts within the organisation we are entering into. As Albert Einstein once said: “Where there is a will, there is a way”.

Now we shall explore together as why having a good boss is more of a priority than anything else in our professional lives.

1. Helps Grow My?Career

Our bosses play a critical role in shaping our career growth. The right boss serves as a mentor, providing us with valuable learning opportunities and constructive feedback to help us advance. They help us identify our strengths, work with us on our weaknesses, and help us get newer projects based on our existing skillset and help us expand our capacity for future.

Supportive bosses are more inclined to offer us life-long learning opportunities, expose us to different aspects of the business, and give us challenging assignments that lead us to personal and professional growth. On the other hand, a less-professional boss (an insecure one) may limit our exposure and leave us stagnant in our current role, resulting in missed opportunities for development.

2. Fosters a Conducive Environment

Our work environment can make or break our job experience, and the boss plays a pivotal role in creating that atmosphere. A good boss sets the tone for a positive and collaborative work culture. They treat everyone with respect, encourage open communication, and ensure that every team member feels valued.

This kind of work environment is crucial for our mental health and productivity. supportive bosses who foster positivity can boost morale and motivate us to perform at our best. In contrast, a toxic boss can create a negative environment filled with?anxiety,?fear?and?uncertainty, which can diminish your enthusiasm for our work and hinder our ability to perform.

3. Builds Confidence & Self-Esteem

Good bosses don’t only get things done?—?they inspire confidence in their employees. They help us recognise our strengths and push us to take on new challenges that may be outside our comfort zone. When our bosses entrust us with additional responsibilities and believe in our capabilities, it fosters a sense of confidence and enhances our self-esteem.

This can be particularly valuable early in our careers where we’re still busy settling down. The encouragement of a good boss can help overcome self-doubt, take ownership of our work, and grow into a more competent and assured professional. On the other hand, a boss who constantly undervalues his/her employees can have the opposite effect, damaging the self-worth and inhibiting growth.

4. Source of Networking &?Advocacy

Good bosses are more than just supervisors. They advocate for us. As we grow professionally, the relationships we build along the way become increasingly important. A good boss takes out time to introduce us to his/her own network, recommend us for opportunities, and serve as a reference when we’re ready to move on to bigger and better things.

This kind of an advocacy can be invaluable, especially when we’re trying to move into a new industry or aspiring for a better position elsewhere. We must learn to take our bosses into confidence for such a move. A boss who believes in us will go out of their way to ensure that others recognize our value and competence as well.

5. Recognition and Career Advancement

A good boss always recognizes our hard work and achievements, which is a key to advancing our career. Recognition from our bosses can open doors to promotions, salary raises, and new opportunities. A boss who sees our potential and is willing to speak for us is one of the most important assets one can have in a professional setting.

Such bosses do recognise and ensure that our contributions do not go unnoticed and support us when new opportunities arise. On the contrary, the not-so-nice bosses don't hesitate to take credit for the work of their employees or fail to acknowledge their contributions. In corporate setting, we call them corporate thieves who take away our chances for growth.

Summary

In a world where career success is often measured by titles and paycheques, it’s crucial to remember that the people we work with?—?especially our bosses?—?have the biggest influence on our careers and growth. So, let’s prioritise finding a good boss above all else, and we’ll set ourselves up for a fulfilling and successful career.

While factors such as salary, job title, and company reputation are important, none of these will matter if we’re dissatisfied, unsupported, or stagnant in our existing job roles for ages. A good boss is a blessing in many ways. S/he acts as a mentor, an advocate, and a leader who provides guidance, opportunities, and support that significantly impact our professional and personal life.

Suggested Reading

1. Who are ‘Pakaaoo’ Bosses and how to deal with them?

2. Who are these constipated bosses around us?

3. Receiving vague or NO feedback from your boss

4. Are you undervalued at work?

About the?Author

Muhammad Sajwani is a C-Level HR, Transformation Leader, Board Advisor, Business Coach & Organisational Consultant and Managing Director, Evolve HR. He is an author, columnist and a contributor who besides writing for LinkedIn and Medium, also regularly writes for BizCatalyst 360 and has published around 500 articles. He brings along 30+ years of local & international experience. He is a change catalyst specializing in unleashing the human Dreamgenius through Leadership, Creativity and Change Management. Muhammad has been instrumental in helping organizations come to terms with organizational changes like right-sizing and business process re-engineering. His innovative approach & high personal competence encourages people to not only accept change, but also to excel in it. Muhammad has diverse experience in conducting strategic & management development programs, conferences & events for organisations across sectors. In recognition of his long outstanding services, Global HR Professionals?—?GHRP & Artificial Intelligence Community of Pakistan awarded him the “Lifetime Achievement Award” in the year 2024.