Boss’s Day
October 16th is Boss’s Day, a day set aside for employees to recognize their boss for being fair and kind throughout the year.
A few thoughts, if I might, from a former “boss,” now retired.
First, I don’t like the word “boss.” This image sums up why:
I think the boss has been largely replaced by the leader, in most organizations. And hopefully in virtually every Christian organization. See Matthew 20:26 and several other verses.
But back to the subject at hand. According to Wikipedia, Boss’s Day has been panned by some as a “Hallmark Holiday”, putting pressure on employees to give gifts to their boss who makes more than them, and has power over them.
Fair criticism, I’d say.
I was always uncomfortable with Boss’s Day. It always felt backwards to me. Why should the people who are most responsible for the success of our organization thank me for anything?
I should be thanking them!
Certainly being the boss can be hard. Chuck Swindoll refers to “the lonely whine of the top dog.” Only people who have been the top dog can fully understand what he means.
The old Army saying, “RHIP, Rank Has It’s Privileges” is true. But also has its own set of counterweights such as responsibility. When the buck stops with you, there’s no safety net. And the pressure that comes with that is enormous.
But should we have a day set aside so our employees can thank us for that?
I remember when I was a kid, complaining to my Mom that there was a Mother’s Day, and there was a Father’s Day, but why isn’t there a Kid’s Day?! She told me to hush because every day is kid’s day.
I kind of view Boss’s Day like that.
My reward, or gift, from my employees was something I received every day. I mean, these talented people could be working anywhere but they chose to work with me! They made a decision to follow my leadership, to share my vision, to walk alongside me every day, co-laborers in our mission to connect people to Jesus and each other
Deciding to follow Jesus, and who to marry, are pretty much the only other two decisions higher than deciding where you are going to work. I never took that decision lightly when someone decided to join our team.
John Maxwell says if you think you are a leader but nobody is following you, you are just taking a walk. The whine of the top dog is a lot louder when the pack is thin.
My goal as a leader was to put together the best team possible and let them do their jobs. Sounds pretty simple. It’s not. Often the hardest part of being a leader is taking your hands off something even though you know how to do it, and maybe even do it better.
But I learned if I had the right team, they would work together to make the organization 100 times better than I could with my limited talent, creativity, and energy. I just needed to encourage them, provide the tools they needed, keep our vision top of mind, love and serve them, and stay out of the way.
The result: a successful ministry and a happy team that made me look better than I really was.
That’s a gift every boss desires!
If your team wants to take you out for lunch or give you a coffee mug on Boss’s Day, that’s fantastic. Go and enjoy and be grateful! I just don’t think there should be any artificial pressure on them to do that.
On the other hand, maybe having a Boss’s Day could be a good time for you, as the boss, to turn the tables and thank your staff for giving you the opportunity to lead. Thank them for supporting the vision, making sacrifices so your organization is successful, and for making it so that you’re not just taking a walk.
They could be working anywhere, and if you don’t love them and let them know you do, they just might take their talents and gifts somewhere else.
The perfect Leader never sought recognition or accolades, and I wonder how he would have reacted if the disciples decided to give him a plaque for Boss’s Day. I think he would have asked them to focus on serving others rather than elevating Him. He probably would have emphasized humility and service over traditional displays of authority or recognition.
Maybe He would have washed their feet.
If your team honors you on Boss’s Day, that is awesome. It means they love and respect you, and want to celebrate you, and there’s nothing wrong with that! Having the perspective of separation and hindsight, I just want to encourage you to look at Boss’s Day 2024 from another angle.
Making your team feel valued and loved can be a challenge in the day to day grind. Maybe this is a great opportunity to surprise and delight the ones who made you a boss in the first place.
That’s what leaders do.
