Last month we started the year with an account manager meeting in Dallas. During one of my presentations I had the members of the team list all of the company resources we had that were at their disposal. Resources such as our qualitative group, library, social media team and new business development team were there for them to use when they had a need during the year.
I also said that I am a resource and stated, “Yes, I am the boss, but I work for you – you don’t work for me.”
What I meant by that is:
- If you need me to attend a new business development presentation and need me to participate, I will be there!
- If you want me to co-present with a client at a conference – sign me up!
- If you want me to call a new client or send an email to thank them for their business – consider it done!
- If you are looking to have a strategic discussion about a few accounts – invite me to the meeting!
So I will end again with: I consider myself a resource within our company and yes, I am the boss, but I work for you – you don’t work for me.
With that said,
- Do you agree with my position?
- Have you worked with other people who feel the same way?
- Do you believe this is the right way of thinking?
I look forward to reading your comments.
Fee Sepahi says:
WOW! What a novel concept! I never thought of it like that.
One person comes to mind by the name of Mike R. Though he never verbalized
it the way you have, I could tell that he was a partner in you and he and ultimately the company succeeding.
Ann Dencker says:
Merrill,
I love it and completely agree! The first boss I ever had in the corporate world said to me “It’s my job to make it easier for you to do your job.” That has always stuck with me and has been a philosophy I’ve tried to embrace.
Ann
Scott Koenig says:
I agree with your position and I wish we had more leaders who practiced this in the business world.
Kim Clark – former Dean of the Harvard Business School said recently, “In an organization, whenever you are with people, and you have a responsibility to be a leader… It is not just about statements of vision and concrete plans and strategies, it is about people. It is about hearts and minds. It is about getting them engaged but the only way for you to do that is for you to engage with them. What inspires people about great leaders is that they inspire them”.
Such leaders are hard to find these days. It sounds like you have figured it out.
stephenie gordon says:
fantastic, just fantastic.
Melanie says:
The exact definition of Servant leadership. It’s perfect. Thank you.
Steve Akerson says:
I too, agree with your stance, Merrill. The old (and true) saying is “never ask anybody to do anything that you wouldn’t be willling to do yourself”. Yours is a great demonstration of leadership.
Rachel says:
Yes! I agree completely!
Pete Mimnaugh (new guy) says:
When I read this it reminded me of a feeling I had one day when I worked as an agent for United Airlines years ago. Flight 5 , about to leave for LA, had a bomb scare, and we were asked to if we would go down to the baggage loading area and each passenger would have to open their luggage as we would search each piece. The first time I went “on the line” to check for explosives armed with little more than a pair of rubber gloves I looked to my left and there was Rich combing through the bags.. Rich was the VP in charge of all of United’s operations at JFK airport in New York. From that point on, I was the first one to volunteer to screen the luggage. While such an approach might be a bit unconventional, it is also very motivating.
Phil Harriau says:
You should run for the Senate. This kind of fresh thinking is badly needed in Washington!