Recently I had a disagreement with my boss. We had opposite points of view about how we handled an issue. She saw it one way and I saw it another. While that’s not outstanding, what was outstanding was the freedom I felt to tell her I disagreed. I didn’t have to pause to carefully word my response. I didn’t have to stew on it for a few days running talking points through my head. I didn’t have to stand in reserve worried about her reaction. I was able to tell her directly that I disagreed. And guess what, we talked about it and moved on. No harm, no foul! We were both free to have our own opinions and have continued to work productively and enjoyably together since.
I can’t tell you how grateful I am for a boss who allows for freedom of healthy expression.
Employees have choices, especially in today’s economy. It’s a good boss and a good company that realize that, and cultivate an environment where employees are encouraged to speak up, speak out, and contribute.