Article for THE WEEK sent on 23/01/2006

ARE YOU IN YOUR BOSS'S TEAM?

"ENTER ONE'S HEART THROUGH HIS STOMACH" Is a saying where the significance of one's desire to eat is brought about. To this theory, the Boss is not an exception!

Every Staff, be it a sub ordinate or a supervisory staff, would dream to be in their boss's team(COURT) and their boss's blue eyed boys! Not to speak of he Deputy of the Boss whose main task is to keep his boss and subordinates happy following the theory of Welfare State!

It is always a struggle to find out whether one is in the boss's court or not.

There are no theories for locating this. But there could be a self-test that could lead you to the boss's doorsteps and thereby his heart.

Please try to answer the following questions that could lead you to an inferential conclusion whether you are in your boss's court or not. If you desire to be try to improve upon with your boss in your dealings with him. If you are already in the Court, (and the most leading) then nothing to worry. You could as well keep maintaining the same until another competitor emerges!

NOW THE TEST:

SITUATIONS FOR REACTION A B C D
1. You are the only soul to get the boss's direct assignments
2. You know the priorities of the Boss in a Day's work
3. The boss's decisions are having a base on your opinions
4. In the absence of the Boss, decisions taken by you does get accepted as a normal decision
5. Boss takes you along when important meetings are to be chaired by him.
6. Boss's family members respect you and your words
7. You were indispensable to your previous boss
8. You are indispensable to the present boss
9. The Boss plays dirty games with me
10. Irrespective of the boss, my fundamental systems are strong
11. The layer below you await your commands as your boss's
12. The boss encourages comments by others on you
13. The boss questions you on your canards\excuses.
14. The boss discusses your personal matters with concern
15. Your boss speaks out on his personal predicaments to you
16. You know your boss's family members intimately
17. Your boss knows your family members intimately
18. Your Leave and your permissions are refused by the boss due to your important role
19. Boss knows his weaknesses and he has discussed with you them.
20. Boss has identified your weaknesses and he has brought them to your notice.


THE SCORE:

If you have answered A for the following situations you get a Mark each
1, 2 & 10
If you have answered B for the following situations, you get a Mark each
3, 4. 5, 7, 8, & 11
If you have answered C for the following situations you get a Mark each
6,9,13,14,15,18, & 20
If you have answered D for the following situations, you get a Mark each
12, 16, 17, &19

RATINGS:

0-5 Your Boss has not appointed you in his court! constant efforts of confidence building and capability building has to be made.
6-10 Your Boss has kept you in his court: But your role is limited. You may have to redraw your strategies and deal anew with your boss.
11-15 Here comes the Closed User Group(CUG) console of your Boss. The boss is fond of you and your work.
16-20 Great! You are your Boss's Man Friday! But beware! You run the risk of getting branded as your boss's chela. This may not be desirable for the next boss. Assess and Corrective steps need to be initiated.*