Yes Boss!

Like them, love the, loathe them. They are here to stay! All of us who have entered the professional sphere at some point in our lives have encountered them. I know people who dread switching jobs because they have this deep-seated fear that their next boss may just turn out to be worse than the present one. No matter how well placed you are to hold the post offered by a prestigious or start-up company, what you cannot guarantee is how compatible you will be with your new boss. Although having given many an interview, I have learnt to judge these ubiquitous office entities early on, there is no way of judging how things may turn out eventually once you actually work with them. I mark 10 years of my work experience this year and somehow, when I look back and reflect on the whole journey, one thing that stands out is the camaraderie I share with some of my bosses and how wonderfully they have contributed to the learnings I have imbibed through them.

I was lucky enough to get an extremely cool woman as one of my foremost bosses quite early in my career. It was my first spate with hard core entertainment broadcast journalism. Although I was put under another immediate boss by her, my true tryst with the fun part of work started only when I was moved to work directly on her pet project- a weekend entertainment show on prime time news television. What differentiates a great boss from an average one is her ability to make you learn without throwing her weight and knowledge around at every given opportunity, which sort of smothers the confidence and freedom of imagination that a newbie might bring to the table. My understanding of her stature came from the way she dealt with the toughest of situations, her quick fix solutions to the biggest of crises and an unwavering charm that overpowered every distress call we faced at work. Being calm under pressure was an art she had mastered, in fact, making a seemingly tense situation humorous was her forte. Needless to say, no one in her team ever wished to work with any other boss and her exit was mourned over as much as the editorial tutelage that we missed after she left the organisation.

Famous Last Line:

Me: But there is just no way we are going to find a celebrity within the next one day to fill this slot in the show.

She: We will handle it. There is always a solution to the worst of problems. All we need to do is turn around the bend and look for it.

My next memorable mentor happened to transport me in to a world of art and its management. A living breathing legend of the theatre community herself, adulation and admiration for her craft, expertise and body of work was a given, no matter who she met. She could draw people to meet her just by her name and with the random message, “need to discuss an idea”. But what really marked her out for me, is her ability to switch from her free-thinking artistic sensibilities to become the meticulous director of all the programmes we conceptualised and executed. Her passion for her job was such that she could often be found fiddling with pencils, paper and rulers, etching out strategies, schedules and marking calenders for a new POA. Her time was defined to a point where she knew whom she would need to meet four weeks from now or which call she needed to make a month later in tandem with the events calendar we needed to maintain and adhere to. Sitting for a chat with her was as educational as it was fun, with her using anecdotes from a time bygone when she was in the heat of producing her best work till date and at the same time, sharing her excitement of a new production we would set in motion in coming days. I have seen young directors half her age sit enraptured and all ears at this woman’s words, with no semblance of a generation gap. That is the beauty of art, it transcends age, culture and status. It helped me open my eyes to a world full of possibilities, creative energies and artistic crescendo. Her oldest peon used to tell me how she is as nifty a homemaker as she is at work, managing the kitchen, household chores and her maids with effortless ease. And all this at the ripe old age of 73! Actually I take my words back, ‘old’ seems like an insult to the grace, charm, intelligence and zeal she personified.

Me: We have a huge event calendar ahead Ma’am. How will we possibly manage to get 6 large scale events on the floor within the next two months?

She: We will. Let’s start by planning backwards.

(By the end of this exercise, I knew precisely which call to make and who to meet with today to lead up to the main event two months later!)

I had no experience of PR or having worked in a start-up before I joined this particular agency. Also delving in to a job that needed me to work in such a set up in an alien city meant that I was biting more than I could chew. One week in to the job and I was already thinking I would treat myself if I could survive the disparately functional culture in this new place for even six months. Today I have done myself proud by sailing steady for over 3 years and counting. This despite several life changes including moving cities, becoming a mother et al. A major factor that has aided my longevity is my boss’ faith in my skills, experience and ability to tackle my responsibilities efficiently without needing to breathe down my neck. It is here that I realised that the reason I have been able to flourish and grow as a professional and person is the space I was allowed to thrive in. Taking key decisions, being valued for my inputs and consulted for crucial occasions instilled in me trust and security. At the same time, what has been delightful is the approachability and comfort that a boss who also owns a company exudes when an employee of any status wishes to confide in him. This has made me understand how important it is to not lose your head to arrogance and ego when you reign your kingdom. The ability to stay grounded despite the highs helps a person become invincible in the face of a crisis that tries to bring you down. And for this life lesson, I am indebted to my boss. I have also learnt that learning to appreciate is important, and expressing that appreciation from time to time is even more important.

E: On any suggestion I may have taken till date…

B: If you see no problem to the company in taking this decision, we don’t see why we should not trust you on it.