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KathyM · Feb 03, 2010, 11:02 AM

I never cared for leaders who "managed" people. It may look pretty, but it doesn't get the job done. It looks HILARIOUS on the "battle field."

Do you really need to wear those feathers and bright red coats, yellow ties, Armani suits, march and shoot in formation - tooting your BMW horn all the way? Do employees have to all look alike - jump alike and deliver perfection all at the same time at a moment's notice?

Well, YES.....BUT - It never really works when people are managed through brow-beating, ridicule, humiliation and threats of punishment. The more threats, the more "feisty" the co-workers become. When the "cat" (leader) is away, it becomes a challenge to the "mice" (subjects/co-workers) to see how much fun they can get away with - how little work they can do. They already know they can bust their butt into death (destroying their family) and STILL never be good enough, so why bother? As a result, it pits subjects/co-workers against each other - ways to blackmail a good employee out of the picture so that you can have his/her job....and look good doing it (in order to provide for your family). Businesses, organizations, families, and glee clubs soon fall apart - because everyone is only thinking of themselves - everyone wants to be on top with a big name, regardless of the game.

Enough about "chief executive a-holes."

I used to work for a REAL LEADER. He handpicked his team from the top down - from "big wigs" to "servants." He chose them based on their skill, talent and character. Only those with the strongest hearts were chosen - didn't matter how silly they looked or acted. He trusted them to perform, and they performed. He never had to watch over their shoulders. Some made mistakes, but they quickly learned not to repeat their mistakes.

This man led by example. I've NEVER seen anyone give more of himself.....just ask his wife and kids. It was okay though because they knew exactly where he was and admired the sacrifice he made. They knew they could call him any time - any one of us would be able to run to get the message out to him. If they needed to see him in person, they knew where to go to wait for his return. They were free to wait..and wait...and wait...along with EVERYBODY else, lol.

That was okay too though. The ONLY reason everyone was waiting was because they knew someone else REALLY needed him at that point - i.e., a child was in critical condition, dying, or had just died. If he's late for a meeting, appointment or lunch date.....oh well. There were always plenty of others to turn to "in case of emergency."

This leader made sure we ALL focused on our single goal - healing that baby and doing our very best to save the child. In order to do this, we all needed to work in unison - like a community. We may not have been able to save them all, but the moms, dads, and other relatives knew we gave it our very best shot. They knew how much they cared. We loved each and every one of them as if they were our own.

Needless to say, it was a VERY stressful environment. Like every other place, there were office politics and game playing. It was a thorn in his side, so he got together with another BIG LEADERS and developed a strategy. They had to learn how to do it right - play politics at the Christmas party, play your games out on the fields at the summer gathering, or vice versa. The key, however - EVERYONE was invited. This included all the wives, husbands, children, girlfriends, boyfriends.....even past/present patients and those not-so-secret lovers.

Some worked it out on the dance floor.....some worked it out on the softball field....some just tried to escape by riding ponies in circles or taking long walks in the woods - under everyone's noses.

After all that playing around, the competition was on! It became a personal challenge to do your work faster and better than your best friend.....in order to "please Daddy" (whoever your "daddy" may be).

This leader was NEVER around, but ALWAYS around....trying to find more ways to make us work to serve our patients, lol. When he was gone, we'd SCRAMBLE to get our work done. If we were feeling particularly "feisty," we'd try to second-guess what he wanted from us and have it ready before he got back. We'd be exhausted as hell, but it would be fun to throw paper clips or shoot rubber bands at a friend and challenge them to do better next time, lol.

It often made us a little "slap-happy," but the patients seemed to enjoy the silly antics. Besides, we were able to get serious and focused on a moments notice. We could go all night long - well, some could, lol.

As a rule, I like to think of having ALL strong hearts on a team. The strongest hearts up front - weakest hearts behind. The strongest ones need to do what they do best, but they can become tired and unfocused. That's when they need the weaker hearts to do what they do best - whatever the heck that may be, at whatever level.

It has always worked in my home, work and school environments. Life is hard, painful, horrible, wonderful, exciting, terrifying, explosive, exhilarating - be it at home, work or at school. It makes you laugh, and it makes you cry - usually over the same darn thing. If you're lucky enough to survive it all, you get the chance to look back and say "WOW, that was FUN - did we really do THAT?" It finally gives you bragging rights and precious trophies - you can thump your chest all you like....no one will care, and no one will remember you. lol.

I'm sure it's pretty obvious I'm a little "slap-happy" myself. I'm okay.....really. I just care about a lot of people and have some pretty deep concerns. No biggie. I've always been this way.

I guess this means "once a brat, always a brat" - I certainly give my husband and son a run for their money, lol. I guess they've never heard me "think out loud" before, lol.

Sooooo.....how'd I do on THIS page? Any corrections necessary?