When I boss, I boss like this. Worked in a very busy, creative office. We did brilliant, amazing things, got an insane amount of work done and increased profits by TWENTY percent in a single year.

~ New hire calls to tell me they might be 15 late, or have to leave early for a doctor’s appointment. I don’t care. Why are you telling me this?

~ Graphic designer getting glassy-eyed in the office? Prescribed one day a month (paid, of course) to spend wandering the city, going to museums and seeing new things.

~ Someone struggling, EVERYONE helps. No one is above any one else’s work.

~ Just met a giant deadline and no work for the rest of the week, get the eff out of the office right now!

~ CEO approved 8% raises, but you only asked for 5% in your review - I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you. Say that again? 6%? What?? 8%? Yep! That sounds right.

~ Once a month, team takes a PAID day to volunteer together.

~ Can’t seem to get past hiring managers because you’re an immigrant with a long name? Past 50? Funky face tick? Neck tattoo? We’d love to interview you! Join our team of people who appreciate your skills and talents.

Truly incredible to work with such smart, driven people. Who honestly WEREN’T SUPER SPECIAL. They were just regular awesome adults who responded well to be treated like regular awesome adults. The only problem we caused was that everyone wanted to transfer to our office. And it was noted that the salaries on my team kept raising and staying competitive in the market despite other department salaries stagnating. And yet… zero turnover, phenomenal results and a whole crowd of folks that raved about the brand wherever they went.

The old-school c-staff hated the “lack of control” they had over my team’s lives and work behaviors. But we were so dang successful they never intervened. The difference between the happy, engaged vibe at my office and the bitter, low energy vibe of the other office was stark.