Ten women tell us about the great managers they’ve had. Do you measure up?
Ten women tell us about the great managers they’ve had. Do you measure up?
“Thanks to my boss, I work in an environment that is fun, creative and accepting. For example, we celebrate holidays, birthdays and even Fridays! If we have a special event planned, she comes up with a theme and encourages us all to dress accordingly. Working with her feels so much like working with a friend.” – Alicia De Souza, 31, speech language therapist.
“Instead of micromanaging, my boss trusts me with my work and listens to my opinions during discussions. I would never do anything to break her trust.” – Mabel Tang, 27, public relations and communications senior executive.
“My ex-director taught me what it means to really look after your staff . He handed me information about caring for someone with dementia, after I mentioned in passing that my granddad had been diagnosed with the condition.” –Evelyn Goh, 32, counsellor.
“My manager praises even my smallest achievements, such as when a client gives me positive feedback or recommends our company to a friend because of my excellent service. It really motivates me to give my best.” – Sabrina Hsu, 31, property agent.
“My ex-boss, Debby, had the amazing ability to defuse tense or awkward moments. She had a wonderful sense of humour and loved bringing everyone together to work as a team. You couldn’t help wanting to emulate her.” – Charlene Hendricks, 32, catering sales manager.
“My former boss always gave credit where it was due. If I did something well, she would show her gratitude verbally, with a handwritten card, or through a simple ‘thank you’ e-mail.” – Phoebe Ang, 28, finance executive.
“What impressed me most about my ex-boss was his integrity. If we failed to complete a project on time because he neglected to give us a deadline, he never pointed fingers but instead took responsibility for his mistake.” – Amutha Saravanan, 31, business owner.
“What I liked best about my former boss was how he never let the drudgery of work get to him. He did everything with a smile on his face.” – Amanda Chia, 41, designer.
“My boss is dedicated to keeping her staff happy. She schedules monthly meetings to check in with me on which aspects of my job I’m frustrated with so that we can work things out. She’s happy to not give me an assignment which I dislike doing – her rationale is, why force someone to do something they don’t like?” – Ruby Tan, 28, community service officer.
“It is not often you have a boss who makes time to guide you through your work. My first boss at Her World (and first boss ever!) periodically gave me advice on how to improve my writing, and highlighted areas where I had improved over time. She delicately balanced being observant without micromanaging.” – Ankita Varma, The Straits Times journalist and former Her World writer.
