Since there's plenty of news about rats in the workplace, it occasionally helps to consider people from the other side of the spectrum.
I recall a couple of bosses from a summer job I had while going to college. They so graciously handled my fumbling of a written report that I still marvel at their kindness.
My list continues with several superior officers and NCOs in the Army. Each one was far from the Hollywood stereotype of the order-barking martinet. They were thoughtful, bright, patient, and thoroughly professional. I saw many occasions when they went out of their way to help enlisted personnel and their families. They certainly went out of their way to help me.
When I worked in municipal government the stereotype again didn't fit. I frequently encountered executives, managers, and supervisors who were easily the equal of their private sector counterparts and who focused on helping others. Were there exceptions? Absolutely, but they were exceptions. Most of my colleagues took people and the public trust very seriously.
I recall a couple of bosses from a summer job I had while going to college. They so graciously handled my fumbling of a written report that I still marvel at their kindness.
My list continues with several superior officers and NCOs in the Army. Each one was far from the Hollywood stereotype of the order-barking martinet. They were thoughtful, bright, patient, and thoroughly professional. I saw many occasions when they went out of their way to help enlisted personnel and their families. They certainly went out of their way to help me.
When I worked in municipal government the stereotype again didn't fit. I frequently encountered executives, managers, and supervisors who were easily the equal of their private sector counterparts and who focused on helping others. Were there exceptions? Absolutely, but they were exceptions. Most of my colleagues took people and the public trust very seriously.
The pattern has continued over the years in my work with private sector firms. For every rat, I can cite twenty people whose natural inclination is to do the right thing.
But I have to grant the rats one thing: they get far more ink.
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