Who is your Big Boss?
by Maloi Malibiran-Salumbides


If you were to ask my father to name ten people who made a difference in his
life, I’m sure that Ms. Araceli Linsangan would make it to his top ten. Who is Ms. Linsangan? She was Tatay’s first boss when he was still an employee at
Manila Times. It was Ms. Linsangan who patiently guided my father about the
ins and outs of print advertising. But more than the professional training which
every boss should give her staff, Miss Linsangan also exposed Tatay and his coworkers to the finer things in life. “I learned a lot from her. She also taught us
about fine dining!” Tatay said with grateful pride.

What made my father’s first boss one of a kind? Here are four things that I have
observed:

She recognized her people’s potentials and encouraged them to dream big. Tatay’s first job at Manila Times was in the utility department. One of his tasks was to deliver materials to the advertising department. Ms. Linsangan spotted him and saw that there was more to this young man than just routing correspondences to different departments. She saw his potentials. Under Ms. Linsangan’s tutelage, Tatay became a deskman and was later promoted to advertising account executive.

She gave them wings to soar high. This lady boss didn’t stop at encouraging people to aim high. She taught them the tricks of the trade. She shared with them valuable information and insights. She didn’t just encourage her subordinates to fly, she taught them how to do it.

She believed in her people. She stood by them. When my father figured in a workplace conflict which eventually led to his resignation, one of few people who stood by him was his boss. To this day, my father is grateful for the affirmation and support that he got from Ms. Linsangan. His stint at the publishing company didn’t last long but the impact of his boss on his life was undoubtedly long-lasting.

She didn’t confine her influence to her people’s work. She also influenced their walk. When our parents were teaching us about fine dining, Tatay said, “I learned this from my first boss, Ms. Linsangan.” This boss helped broaden her people’s horizons. She helped build-up their confidence. Her influence went beyond the office walls. Indirectly, she also impacted the homes of the people who worked under her.

My father is now president of a company that distributes digital printing equipment and DLP projectors. Several years ago, Tatay took time to know the whereabouts of his first lady boss. When he successfully found where Ms. Lisangan resides, he invited her for lunch and gave her a token gift - a pen. It
was his way of thanking her for the indelible mark that she made in my father’s
life.

Would you like to make it to your staff’s top ten list of the most influential
people in their lives? Do what Ms. Linsangan did.

• Recognize people’s potentials and encourage them to dream big.
• Give your people wings to soar high.
• Believe in your people. Stand by them when others have given up on them.
• Don’t limit your influence to just work. Influence your people’s walk as well.

If you have a boss like Ms. Linsangan, will you take some time today to appreciate him or her. Send them a text message or call them up to thank
them for their positive influence in your life.

If you are a boss, may you be inspired to go out of your way to teach your staff
not just about work but also about what matters most in life.

And lastly, I’d like to encourage you to trust THE BIG BOSS who wants you to
experience not just a good life but eternal and abundant life. He is Jesus, the
one who said, “I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full”
(John 10:10). Make Jesus your Big Boss today.

Pray this with me, “Lord Jesus, more than anything or anyone in this world, you are the one whom I need most. You are the only One who could make sense out of my hurried and confused life. You are the only one who could cause real change to happen in me. I have been running my life for so long and I am tired. I acknowledge that in trying to live life apart from you I am sinning. Today, I turn my back from sin and I choose to surrender the full control of my life to you. I accept you Jesus as my Savior and Lord. From now on, you are the Big Boss that I will be accountable to. In your name I pray, Amen.”

If you prayed this prayer, I’d love to hear from you and send you a few pointers
as you begin a fresh relationship with God. Will you let me know about the
decision you made today? Email me at protips@....

Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com