Have you ever had a boss who was not bossy? One who asked or requested, rather than demanded that certain things be done? Have who ever had a boss who told you what to do, rather than asking? It has been my observation that productivity and morale are higher under the boss who is not domineering, bossy, or controlling, especially when that boss communicates well, articulates the mission, and has high expectations of him/herself and everyone around them. That is leadership!
In order to be the ‘boss of you,’ you must show yourself the same respect. Too often we beat ourselves up when we do not meet our desires goals or live up to our own expectations. Kindness to oneself goes a long way. However, this does not mean that you can be easy on yourself or lower your goals and expectations. When the voice in your head is mean to you, you are probably tempted to quit, take a break, go get something to eat, or engage in some other diversion. But when the voice in your head says, “take your time,” “let’s go over this again,” “be patient, we’re going to win.” Suddenly, you cease to be a dictator or tyrant to yourself, now you can become an effective manager. Managers work with you, they do not lord over you. Managers bring out the best in you, and you, in turn, bring out the best in them.
If we are going to become our own bosses, we must discipline ourselves to effectively manage the voice inside of our head. When it becomes critical and judgmental, we must remind it to help us, rather than judge and criticize us. When the voice in our head becomes fearful, we must tell it, “no worries, we can handle this together.” If we are going to be disciplined for success in all areas of our lives, we must never let the voice in our head, nor voices from the outside, bully us, or boss us around. It is time to be the boss of you!