'Having a problem with the boss (Part II)'
By Josie O. Santamaria
Contributor
MANILA, Philippines—I read with great interest your advice to Mr. Confused in your column on Sunday, May 9, 2010 page M2 encouraging him to build a positive relationship with his department manager despite the latter’s actions and reactions against him. The reason for my interest in reading your advice is because I’m in the same predicament as Mr. Confused. My supervisor (I’m just a rank-and-file) ignores me. Even during meetings when I would raise my hand to express my opinion or idea, he would not even call me at all. This has caused me to be embarrassed. I don’t participate anymore in our meetings. I just do my work the best way I can and just leave him alone.
Shouldn’t a supervisor be the one to develop a good relationship with his subordinates so that they will be motivated and productive? It’s unfair that we subordinates should be the one to “dance to the music” (to quote you) just because he is the boss. I’m also confused about the role of a boss.
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'Live the life you love'
By Ernie O. Cecilia
Contributor
MANILA, Philippines—When I was young and silly, my childhood friends and I had great dreams of what we wanted to be. Many wanted to be a doctor, lawyer, policeman, businessman, politician, or movie star. We thought that it was great to be a doctor or lawyer, but in our young age, we never really understood the immensity of the work involved in being a doctor or lawyer.
No one wants to work
Truly, when you really get down to it, under all the sophisticated pretenses, no one really wants to work. In my line of work, I have realized that for many people, the definition of work is “something I would rather do less of.” I can no longer count the emails I got from disgruntled employees complaining of the heavy volume of work they have to do for a measly sum.
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