Our work roles v our humanity

When I was a practising lawyer, I had the opportunity of working for an amazing senior lawyer. He was fabulous not just in terms of the work he did but also with regard to his temperament. I reflect back now on some of my experiences with him and I think -“wow”- how blessed was I to have had such a boss!

I don’t know what made him a good boss. I know people often speak of leaders and managers and the differences between the two. However, I’m not sure what made this quiet, unassuming character such a good leader. He wasn’t perfect – none of us can claim to be perfect. There was no extra pomp and ceremony about him. He didn’t need to hold court or be seen by everyone. He ran a quiet practice. Still he was a great boss to work for.

I wonder if he was able to somehow not get caught up in his role of boss or lawyer or employer. He was able to respond in such human fashion. I remember coming back from holiday and upon being back at work for several days, my dad was involved in an accident. My gracious boss simply took the file off my hands and said “go do what you need to”. There was such grace in that act. Such kindness. He didn’t suddenly start counting the hours I had worked since coming back, neither did he put pressure on me in anyway whatsoever at that point.

The funny thing is, he never made a big deal about how I should go to him and ask him for things. None of that kind of talk. I just knew I could go to him and see him and speak my mind. I knew it was a safe zone. How his actions spoke far louder than his words! It is so unlike some of the stuff I’ve seen and heard about lately. I’ve heard bosses delivering speeches about how we can go to them for anything. Yet – ask for an hour off because things are crazy in the office and you need the hour to finish some work and you open yourself up to comments about how they expect their staff to be prepared well in advance, etc. First and foremost – just because you need an hour more, doesn’t mean that you are unprepared. Second, it just shows almost a meanness of spirit in making such comments. There is no safe zone.

It is the recognition now of how such negativity was missing from the conduct of my law boss that makes me ever so grateful for the time I spent with him.
I wonder whether my ex-boss’ ability to be so gracious was because he wore his humanity over and above his role of lawyer or employer. I wonder if that made the difference in him. I know that I have fallen short of my humanity at points when I have pushed for something even though the person who hadn’t delivered had a legitimate excuse or could have done with a little bit of understanding. Hopefully I can keep recalling and learning from my past experiences with my former boss and remember that this role I have of humanity should never take second place. I suspect even the corporate world will be a happier place if we all remembered this a little more.