Great Bosses and Great Advice

Great Bosses and Great Advice Great Bosses and Great Advice Bersins great boss welches his manager at IBM, Bob. Bersin writes, Ive had a bunch of bosses but my very first one was by far the best. He was an old-fashioned IBM manager (I only remember him taking his jacket off once in ten years). He played golf, shmoozed with clients, and was generally a formal but very nice guy.This article inspired me to think about all the bosses Ive had over the years and what helpful career advice Ive received from each one. So below are a few takeaways Ive received from some great bosses in the past- hopefully their words of wisdom will help you in your job search and career pursuits as much as they continue to help me.Carrie Experience is the best teacherCarrie was my editor at the states largest newspaper. She was great at helping me craft my news stories and focus on timely information when reporting. But the greatest thing Carrie taught me is that experience truly is the best teacher.When I first began working with her, I was impressed by her knowledge of the industry and her skills as an editor. Like any good editor, she took my rough drafts and turned them into newsworthy pieces. And I was even more impressed (and surprised) when Carrie told me one day that shed never gone to journalism school she didnt even have a degree in the fieldHere was this sharp, talented woman who had worked her way up to being an editor for the states largest newspaper (and one of 2013s top 25 newspapers in terms of circulation), and she hadnt gone the traditional route as far as education. Carries college background wasnt in journalism, but she had ample experience in the field. This taught me that the degree isnt what always matters, but your hands-on experience in a field or industry. When pursuing my goals, I can rack up degree after degree, but without any real-world experience to show Ive mastered the skills that go hand-in-hand with the field, they will only get me so far.Justin Doin g what you love helps you love what you doNow Justin was my manager when I interned for Make-A-Wish America. He was the most creative, relaxed and free-spirited boss Ive ever had. Justin was a creative at heart with a passion for helping others. Every day youd see him smiling- no matter if the day was hectic or if something went wrong.Plus, Justin lived life to the fullest by taking every opportunity to travel. He had so many exciting stories to tell about the places hed been, and each one helped fuel his creative drive and energy.Justin was (and still is) extremely invested in making a difference that his job truly wasnt a job at all because he loved what he did. This taught me the importance of working in a field that allows me to express my creativity and that falls in line with my passions.Stephen People should be the main focus of any jobStephen was one of my absolute greatest bosses. He was the managing editor of a small town newspaper in North Carolina, and even in my short t ime working with him, he taught me so much.Stephen was all about business and ensuring the paper ran smoothly and efficiently, but at the root, he was all about people. As a new manager, he created a comfortable atmosphere for his employees, having humor-filled weekly meetings. Hed sit down with me at lunch and just talk about life, and every day before leaving hed stop in my office to talk with me just to make sure things were going smoothly. He was a manager that was truly invested in my success, not only in those moments, but in the future.People are at the heart of journalism, and Stephen taught me this in many ways. Every story I wrote he ensured had an appealing angle for the community. He challenged me to go out into the town, report and meet new people. He also pushed me to interact with the other gruppe members so I would understand the importance of working on and as a team.People were the focus of our stories and business, but Stephen taught me that people are really the focus of our lives. Every interaction and connection makes an impact on us- and working with Stephen and the team of other reporters left a long-lasting impact on me and my career.Al Work hard, but enjoy lifeAl was another one of my absolute greatest bosses. He was a part of the C-suite at a Fortune 500 company- but youd never know it. He was a very cool, laid back kind of guy. Hailing from Chicago, Al was a mix of old-fashioned manager- as he stayed late and came in early- with a touch of new school charm- as he blogged and worked his way into tweeting.One day, Al said to me, If you work for a company and dont enjoy it, leave. Give it a year, and if youre not enjoying the work, leave. Life is too short not to enjoy it and have fun with the work youre doing. These words of wisdom have stuck with me.You see, Al worked very, very hard. Yet, he still enjoyed life and the work he was doing. He came in the office before everyone else, but he hosted an annual golf outing. And he traveled for business often, but he put on an annual charity event to support his toy foundation. He had a knack for infusing his role for the company and his personal ventures, which allowed him to be about business while simultaneously being about pleasure. Al taught me that work can be fun- even with the demands of a C-suite role.Have you had received great advice from great bosses over the years? Share their insights in the comments section below