Tell us about your great company / bosses

**TexasHusker** · 02-24-2017, 08:04 AM

I had a CEO for about 10 years who was marvelous. Unassuming, knew everyone's name, approachable. He was loved by everyone. Fun guy - he made going to work a joy. I learned A LOT from him about the right way to lead.

He told his directors and VPs once, "You aren't here to boss people around. You are here to lead. There is a difference. If you feel the need to be the boss, do me a favor and resign today so you can go boss people at another company."

**phantom** · 02-24-2017, 08:35 AM

I work with a pretty awesome group of people. We were part of a small company (<100 employees) which was bought by a much larger company (1000s of employees) about a year ago. The CEO of our old company was a bit crazy at times, but he had a lot of good ideas, and he was good at surrounding himself by good people who would attract other good people. There's certainly a good bit of corporate BS at the new bigger company, but my immediate coworkers and bosses are still awesome.

My coworkers are all smart people who trust and respect each other, help each other out when someone is stuck, and really care about putting out a product that our users love and that earns us lots of money.

My manager trusts people enough to let them do their thing and is always full of praise for everyone on our team. Sometimes he's so full of positivity that it comes across as fake, but his actions always match his words. He's also willing to step up and do what he can to remove obstacles in anyone's way.

My director (my manager's boss) is always open and honest about where things stand and where he thinks they're going. He doesn't have the time to be as hands on as he would like, but he always wants to do what's best for his employees.

**97guns** · 02-24-2017, 09:26 AM

I Worked for the company that had the contract to make minute man ICBM 3rd stage motors and everyone there partied hard. My immedidiate boss was selling marijuana, everyone there was doing cocaine and meth. Every Friday we would drink beers and get smashed, bosses doing coke and smoking weed everywhere, they didn't care. Like a mullet, it was business in the front and party in the back all the way to the top.

Sad to say we incurred a couple of rather large explosions where a couple people died and the Navy/Air Force yanked the contract, never saw it coming

**corn18** · 02-24-2017, 09:42 AM

Originally posted by 97guns View Post

I Worked for the company that had the contract to make minute man ICBM 3rd stage motors and everyone there partied hard. My immedidiate boss was selling marijuana, everyone there was doing cocaine and meth. Every Friday we would drink beers and get smashed, bosses doing coke and smoking weed everywhere, they didn't care. Like a mullet, it was business in the front and party in the back all the way to the top.

Sad to say we incurred a couple of rather large explosions where a couple people died and the Navy/Air Force yanked the contract, never saw it coming

**Mjenn** · 02-24-2017, 01:33 PM

My last boss I had was the one who gave me the push to start my own company. I wanted some new challenges at my old job and I suggested we expand a bit in another direction I'd been hearing a lot of interest in from our clients (it was a small company, my boss was the owner). She declined, but suggested I take the idea and run with it, said I was welcome to use her client base and she would be happy to partner with me if I did so.

I did, it was quite successful, an she was my biggest cheerleader. When I decided to go back to the corporate world but wanted to take a bigger step up she also gave me a glowing reference. She had her quirks and wasn't always the easiest person to work with, but I definitely felt like she 'got' me and wanted the best for me as well.

Of course when I was my own boss, the boss was brilliant but also probably the toughest boss of all. I was never 'off' because I was always giving myself a hard time

Now i'm back to business again and have a new boss. She is very hands off, but I know that if I need anything she'll make sure to make time to listen and help me right away -- which suits my independent way of working just fine.

I consider myself pretty lucky. I've only had one boss where I felt like it was not a good fit -- and so I moved on pretty quickly.

**HundredK** · 02-24-2017, 03:34 PM

I like this post. The other one seemed super negative.

I've had the opportunity to work with some really amazing people. My favorite boss though, she was the absolute best to work for. She treated us all with real respect, was quite protective of our team and NEVER let anyone mess with her people. She understood all of our little quirks so that we could each craft our own happy work environment. For example, I'm quite introverted, and she happily let me have an office that was somewhat isolated and let me work with headphones on. I could spend days without speaking to another person when I wanted to. She was also incredibly smart and super generous about sharing her knowledge with us. I feel very lucky to have had her influence in my life, and she definitely shaped how I have framed every work environment since.

I have told her often that someone should study her and write a book on how to be an amazing boss.

**HundredK** · 02-27-2017, 06:00 PM

Heh - very sad to me that the negative version of this post has way more responses than the positive one. Telling, isn't it?

**Thrif-t** · 02-27-2017, 06:48 PM

Well I posted in the negative but I have a positive too. My first job at a big company, I had been working there for 5 years when I got a new boss. He was younger than me and at first was a challenge to work for because he was always trying to prove he was worthy to be over us. We finally found our groove and became a great team. He went to bat for me numerous times getting me higher raises than others around me. One time he even told our Director he would forego his raise so they could give it to me. He really was a great guy! When he left our company, I was devastated, but he soon asked me to join him at the new place. He always appreciated my work ethic and rewarded me for it. I handled a lot of things that he should've, but he trusted me. Now he's gone again, and well you can read my rant in the negative thread. But if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be making what I am.

Not that you guys would think it's a lot but it's good money for part time.

**Smallsteps** · 02-27-2017, 07:24 PM

I have been working for a staffing agency and have been placed in many companies I have seen very bad and seen very good. I wish there was one example that would be the example instead I have common things that can make a good place go bad and a bad place become good.
#1 honesty.
In my opinion this is not optional. the worse company I ever worked for would lie to your face even when presented with proof of the truth.

#2 respect both ways managers for the employees and visa versa.
I have seen when true respect happens both ways..... the working environment is less stressful and really enjoyable. not the fake we appreciate you bs but true respect.

#3 the ability to see problems and ADDRESS them completely not saying stop or I will say stop again.
people should not have to be babysat but unfortunately in some cases bad habits need to be broken. example I worked at a company that checked computer history, it was NO secret. and for most no problem but instead of the gentle reminders of policy violation over and over you simply would be shown the door. For some that may seem harsh but I can tell you that when you see people not working over and over and you are expected to carry the weight I appreciate the direct approach
This is directly tied to the respect issue.

Tell us about your great company / bosses