The Boss Published May 21, 2012 By Russell Hebert 97th Maintenance Directorate division chief 2 ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Some think being the "boss" is all about attending meetings and making decisions. Well, that's part of the job, but as you learn to become an effective leader, you find that being the boss is much more in depth. Leaders influence all people they come in contact with; subordinates, peers and supervisors alike. Everyone looks toward a leader for guidance and inspiration - the boss is this person. The boss understands that everyone is just as important as the next in completing the mission. An effective boss sets the tone of the organization by setting an example for all to follow. This is done by always doing the right things right. The closer you are to the senior leaders of the organization, the more scrutiny is placed upon you. You will find there are more employees who know who you are before you even know them. You are in a bubble and employees make many judgments about you and your character as they watch the actions and decisions you make. You must remain steadfast in your actions to be non-prejudicial and be consistent with making decisions based on circumstance and not the individual. The boss of any organization should be inspiring to all those working toward meeting mission goals. Not only should you provide guidance and set the example, but you should work hard to inspire and motivate employees in understanding the importance of meeting the mission. Many times employees do not realize just how important their piece of the pie is to the overall mission and this is very frustrating for them. They feel they just have a job producing widgets; they never see the end product. However; without their contribution, the entire mission of your organization may be stopped or crippled. The boss is given the difficult task of ensuring every employee understands their importance to the mission and how it cannot be completed without their contributions. Many people who become the boss forget where they came from and how they got there. This is a very common character flaw that can be seen clearly by everyone; you must have humility to be an effective "boss." Understand that every person's contribution to the mission is as important as the next and that means the boss as well. The job of the boss is not more important than the employee who produces widgets; they merely have different contributions to the mission. As the "boss," it's your job to make sure everyone knows you have the responsibility of making strategic decisions so they can carry out the tactical process of completing the mission; not that you are there to boss them around. A team works much better with a boss coaching rather than dictating. The boss should be a mentor for all and demonstrate how others should strive to be. Simply set the example, put the employee's needs ahead of yours, remain humble and you may come to be considered a good boss by those you serve and lead.