At the End of the Day, Is It Always Me?

There are a number of qualities I look for in my manager/supervisor/boss - someone who is respectful, a great listener, passionate, technically competent, and willing to teach and mentor. However, the quality I most want in my manager is an unwavering willingness to support and defend me.

In his keynote at the Software Craftsmanship North America conference, Ken Auer mentioned that the fastest way for a manager to gain loyalty from his or her employees is to always choose the employee. Basically, at the end of the day, does the manager always side with you (the employee) or someone or something else (like management, your process, the customers, etc.)? A good manager never leaves any doubt about this question; he or she always sides with you. And my experiences have matched Ken's comment. I've been fiercely loyal to the managers that have supported and defended me, while losing trust and respect in those that haven't.

As a student worker in college, I had the task of walking over some daily fundraising totals to the university's cashier's office. Despite being incredibly simple, it became frustrating because I had to deal with a clerk on a power trip who would argue with me on a daily basis about some trivial matter that I now don't remember (but I am certain it was trivial). After once returning looking visibly frustrated, my boss asked me what was wrong. After explaining the problem, he immediately grabbed his jacket and notebook and went to the cashier's office. Thirty minutes later he returned and stated that I would no longer be having any more issues with this troublesome lady. And he was right; my seemingly simple task was now actually simple and carefree.

I was astonished that my boss would immediately go to such lengths to argue for me, the lowly student employee. I instantly developed a strong sense of respect and faithfulness to him, which would continue to grow as he continued to protect and defend his employees. I was then fortunate to have Jim as my manager, who also has this great quality in spades. And because of this, I'm willing to go to hell and back to get a tape backup that needs to be restored if he asked me to. I'd even write a COM app in VB 6 if he wanted.

Unfortunately, the only way to spot this quality is to experience it firsthand. At some point you'll be in a situation where your manager has to choose between you and someone or something else, and that's when you'll find out what kind of manager you have. But it's not a trait that you can identify in an interview or something like that. Nonetheless, it's essential to know where your manager stands: at the end of the day, is it always you?