January 25, 2000

Bringing Balance to Being the Boss

This Boss stuff is a pain in the posterior. Did I ever actually say I wanted this? Did anyone hear me? I don’t believe I requested this. If I did, I was delusional or smoking some bad stuff. Please – if I ever get in this state again – somebody shake me, pinch me….slap me sane!

Now I have more responsibility. I have more accountability. I have no deniability. Heck – I’m not even sure I have any plan old ability!

But I have found ways to maintain my balance. A boss has got to do what a boss has got to do. I find my balance in keeping those who work for me just ever so slightly OFF balance.

This afternoon – after a particularly trying day jam packed with 852 meetings – I wandered into the room I am sharing with two of my developers and began singing You Are My Sunshine…..and then insisting they sing along.

Yesterday a conversation was going on around me regarding sore backs and implements for soothing aching muscles. When one of my fellas (a cute little 20-something fella) tried to involve me in the conversation by asking me if I had ever used one of those long battery operated massagers with ball shaped ends on my back….I gave him a blank look and said “Oh! Those are for your BACK!??” Blondes turn a particularly lovely shade of crimson when embarassed.

I surprised my entire graphics team in their weekly meeting today when I informed them that my idea of a good meeting is one that lasts less than 20 minutes. Less is most definately more in the world of meetings.

I have a standard reply to the standard question – How are you today? My answer is always – ‘just skippy’. Of course there are sometimes adjectives inserted as in just stinking skippy. My tone of voice is the give away in this. Today someone asked me if I was crunchy skippy. I explained calmly that they really needed to worry if my skippy ever got crunchy – or maybe they should skip the worry and immediately duck.

I have a worry wart who has decided she is about to be fired and has asked everyone but me about it. So I pulled her aside and we discussed the rumor. Turns out she was the source as well as the subject. Do I really have time for this sort of shit?

I even got carried away when one young pup was drooling over the female passers by as we stood outside and informed him in a businesslike tone of voice that a hard-on does not technically qualify as personal growth in the professional arena. Oh Lord – did I just use “professional” and “hard-on” in the same sentence?

And so it goes in the boss lady’s world. Tomorrow I have a meeting with the HR guy to discuss personnel issues and learn how to “deal” with people. Do you think they’re trying to send me a message?

All I’ve got to say is…..the group participation song for tomorrow is Frere Jacques.

BBe

January 26, 2000

Maybe you should try the “whistle while you work” technique. 🙂 Sounds like you’re handling the pressure just fine girlfriend!

you sound like a fun boss to me

Willy & Wilma

Ditto,Willow!

Sounds as if they put the right person in charge. I’m with you on long meetings, which were the bane of my existence. Keep them hopping and off balance! And singing. Sam’s employees sing and chant every morning.

My cure for a worry wart in my life: You worry about all the wrong things. Then suggest some really absurd things to waste time worrying about, such as asteroids or the end of the world.

Try that old disney one… Fairy tales can come true, it can happen to you… I use it to reward good behavior!- psst: Sounds like you have it under control! Keep singing-

The sun’ll come up tomorrow, bet your bottom dollar….

BlueEyes

January 27, 2000

Yes, if you can’t sing and laugh off the tension, throwing things is a good alternative. Works for me!

Hey, I could use a boss like you (though I’m not sure just what I would use her for.) 🙂 Peace and love SW,

Boss Lady, you’re doing fine. You might find a wee bit of entertainment if you visit Grumpy, his 1/24 entry is a plethora of grins. BTW, I found “Chain Gang” was not the most motivating toon to whistle at the office!

Torin Invanusson

::laughing quietly:: Anything that helps keep you sane, dear Sunshine Wolf. With a grin…

You sound wonderfully off center to me. Don’t let them turn you into a corporate drone. It takes creativity to deal with people, not a set of carved in stone rules.

Goodness! I’m laughing still. Do you have any openings? I can’t sing a lick but I can do an acrostic during meetings and look like I’m awake AND taking notes 😉

You sound like a good boss to me! {{{{{HUG}}}}}

You sound like a super boss. I too am against long drawn out meetings. Often a waste of time.

It’s lonely at the top, but the view is better. Peace and love,

I was a supervisor for three years. I wouldn’t do it again for anything. But your approach is much better than mine. I usually tried to bribe them with doughnuts. Some great song suggestions above.

Kidd J

I keep hearing that u’r getting a bunch of snow and ice storms?? Hope u’r doing fine…love ya…

sophist

I don’t think you have reached the highest stage in the Peter Principle….you are too capable 🙂 a hard-on….personal growth….hahahahaha!

Come on SW, you are a natural!!!! When I recruit you to go to work with my new company, I am gonna make sure you supervise 125 employees. VP of Everything Important. You’ll do great!!!

I’m a chicken these days when it comes to driving in the worst weather, in response to your note.

hmm..a boss with a true sense of humor..a boss who cuts thru the bull..a boss with an endearing sense of humility..(singing) ‘What the world needs now is..”(more bosses like you, SW)..*grin*

YOU love being the boss! You do it better, and get those folks to do it your way! 🙂 How’s my kitty?

Are you sure you won’t hire me to do some ribbiting thing? 🙂 My dad’s favorite peanut butter was skippy. I had to either sneak with dad, or make mom feel bad. SHe bought arrowhead mills. 🙂

Thanx for your note…u may have a point there! See what I wrote in response to it…(at KJ’s)..Snow anyone?!

Hi Sunshine~I know what ya mean. The first time I get promoted I felt like a fish in a sand storm. But it’ll grow on ya. Next thing ya know you’ll be working fer yourself! Grins~

toad, toadsterhere on od was suppossed to fly me down, but slight precipitation problems prevented harrassing you this weekend.

I WANNA WORK FOR YOU…you can sing and I will dance, and vice versa…and maybe we might get some work done. and maybe not…but oh what fun we will have!!

YES, A SHAKE OF THE POM POMS WILL DO JUST FINE. THANK YOU SUNSHINE. HEY! I MADE A RHYME! FINE…SUNSHINE…COOL HUH? BYE!

I’d love to work for you! My hubby had a rough time adjusting to becoming boss but is fine with it now. In fact I think he enjoys it now. How about the “itsy bitsy spider” song? hehe.

Thank you, Sunshine, for your honest comment. Here’s hoping everything is progressing well for you on and off the job.

I wish you were my boss-I’ll bet you’re great to work with!