Throughout the past several decades we've seen various frills added to the corporate [employee] experience: workout centers, coffee break locations on campus, better cafeterias, maybe some improved parking, and a host of on-line access to services like insurance, working-from-home, personalized learning and, in some cases, improved 401(k)s. Good stuff and a response to employees demanding more as generations and demographics change. Understood. Some of it was long overdue. Today, some might call this 'the employee experience'. And for 10% of the time we're at our jobs, it truly is the experience.

But there's that other 90% that keeps nagging me. The part that simply will not change unless corporations do some dramatic work to focus on the major element in employee experience. Your boss is your employee experience. I am not alone in this assertion. Researchers in organizational development find this to be true.

[Recently wrote an article on this subject. The employee experience]

The person you work for is 90% of the employee experience

Over the course of four decades I worked for upwards of 30 different managers and leaders in different companies (I was a contract tech for a while so I got to see many different organizations). Some of them were outstanding, intelligent, just, insightful, creative, and easy to talk with. They had a way to improve the day, every day. They had flashes of brilliance that were utterly inspiring. They knew how to talk (and listen) to anyone, at any level in the organization. They were my employee experience.

But even the very rough edges of a very rough childhood did not prepare me for some of them.

Understand that none of my bosses were in a specific age or gender category - the demographics were all over the map. Yet each one of them was a data point in 'the employee experience'. I kept a blood pressure card while I worked for one of them. It was extremely high most days and my family gave me 20 minutes of decompression before they'd speak to me. Others were incredible mentors who were flat out brilliant. I learned from them - they listened to me - and we got a boatload of stuff done together!

If the primary reason you find yourself dreading going to work is your boss, you'll agree that no amount of 'employee experience' perks is going to take away that dread.

The crazy ones

Some were borderline psychotic, still fighting military battles long past. Loud shouting, threats of termination, snap reactions, red faces and angry voices raised were all part of that employee experience. Jekyll and Hyde doesn't do some of them justice. The classic 'amygdala hijack' that we hear of in EQ was not uncommon with those leaders.

Some were simply weird meaning they were unpredictable, finding humor in strange things, mocking customers, criticizing quirks in other employees and exhibiting odd behavior. Of all I worked for, these made me the most uncomfortable. I never knew what they might be thinking. They were flat out creepy.

Some were narcissistic to the level they didn't believe anyone else mattered at all --- for anything --- and they were sometimes abusive to the extreme. How to survive organizational dragons.

Some were drama addicts who sought out the latest gossip or 'fall of the mighty' to drool over and wanted to discuss the drama ad infinitum, ultimately revealing their personal sense of being treated unjustly.

Out-sized egos comes to mind when I think of them.

[See "The Nuts and Bolts of Leadership"]

The weak ones

There were a few who simply 'marked time'. Generally it was because they had achieved a level in an organization I doubt they ever imagined they could accomplish. Some of them simply stuck around a long time and got promoted into roles that paid well, and they didn't want to do anything to 'screw it up'. Thus they gave everyone in a department the same percentage increase and rarely spoke up about any problems their people were facing. 'Best to keep your head down', would have been their motto. Some of them had poor communication skills and leaned heavily on secretaries and admin people to keep them out of trouble. They were the ones I endured but knew I could survive.

The thoughtful and insightful ones

The insightful and interesting role model bosses were amazing. They were people who inspired me to come to work. Every day I was learning something new about a business or a tool from their experience. They saw strategy and complex issues with clarity. I was often humbled in their presence and felt the need to work harder to keep up with their example. Quite often these leaders were pleasant, had a sense of humor and yet knew how to get the job done. They knew how to listen, and they knew what to ask. Several of them are some of the smartest people I've ever met. I would love to list them in this post, but they're not the sort who would want that kind of notoriety. But they were good bosses, and I look back with pride on what we accomplished together.

Now that was an employee experience.

Your boss holds your life in his or her hands. Your boss is your employee experience.

Coordinating activities - The work that happens with others and other teams is coordinated by your boss.

Building team reputation - The 'good bragging' your boss does has an impact on how your team is perceived in the organization. That's a big deal.

Getting you choice projects - Your boss has heavy influence on the work you get, and the work you get builds your career and your long-term resume.

Recognition - Your boss hands out recognition (or doesn't). That recognition has an influence on who you influence in the future.

Rewards - Your raises, your perks, your promotions and your privileges are in the hands and heart of your boss.

Coaching and performance review - Your boss has the honor and privilege of helping you grow and also analyzing your performance.

Adjustments to policies - Your boss has the ability to modify and adjust policy for travel, educational tuition assistance and other corporate benefits.

The hard truth

No amount of atmosphere is going to make up for a manager who is angry, incompetent, weak, unable to keep their word, or shrugging their shoulders and constantly saying "people have to do what upper management says".

If you find yourself dreading to go to work, think carefully about 'why?'. Is it the lack of a cafeteria? Perhaps the parking isn't great. Maybe there are some things about the job you simply don't like --- understood --- but that's true in any job. Few of us sing like a Disney character all day while we're working.

But if the primary reason you find yourself dreading going to work is your boss, you'll agree that no amount of 'employee experience' perks is going to take away that dread.

You'll note that I still remember these different leaders though I've not worked with many of them for decades. Experience endures in memory, my friends.

Postscript - I'm convinced that that majority of issues people have with corporations and organizations today stem from bad experiences with horrible bosses. Thus, organizations would be best served by applying their utmost energy to improving the skill-sets and emotional intelligence of the people who lead at any level. Find the exemplar leaders and have them teach others to improve 'the employee experience' for your entire organization. And get rid of the crazies.

As always, I welcome your thoughtful insights.

~ Dr. Jim Bohn

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