BUS 520 Organization Behavior: Result of Something a Leader said or did, you felt personally Powerful and Capable.

I have changed five different jobs since I joined the industry. Frankly, most of managers that I direct report to not giving me too much of positive feedback as I worked for them. I will get compliment of “good jobs” or “thanks” from my bosses or colleagues from time to time but nothing really specific. I think they said it by courtesy. However, I did put all my very best efforts on doing my job. Maybe they are afraid of giving me too much compliment and worry that I will follow up and ask for the salary raise or promotion? As time goes by I slowly realized their appreciation.

I remembered not long ago that I attended the church event and met the Vice President that I previous worked for. By courtesy I said hello to him and his wife. At the end of event I politely told them it’s time I got to leave. By then his wife stand up and told me that my V.P. always mentioned about my contribution to the company. My V.P. also approached me, holding me with both his hands and said that the company will build a new assembly line in near future and welcomes me back. By then I realized that this is not just a compliment but really the appreciation from hearts of my previous VP and his wife. And I will always keep in mind.

The second person I would like to appreciate is the manager I previously report to. Remembered at one of posts that I mentioned my manager left the tough working environment after me? We now work for the same company and in charge of different groups. He is the person giving out his recommendation to my current VP that I am worth to hire. Help and give me advice to go through the darkest time on dealing with my family issue. As I initially work for the company and short of resources, he is the one allocate his manpower to help me out. However, he never praised me in front of others but in private he told one of his friends that I am sharp and hard working. I knew this is not compliment because he also mentioned to his friend that I am not the sweet person in the mean time. In my mind he always is my mentor and I also treat and respect him like his my elder brother. As I writing this article I just suddenly realized without his help actually I won’t go thru so many down turns in the past few years. I will stop by his office again and thanks all his support to me in the past 12 years.

The last person I want to mention is my current VP. My VP gave me praises in very different way. He is the one challenge me and gave me complicated cases to solve all the time. He tests how good I am technically and mentally. I remembered as I joined the company, my group having lots of personal conflict and efficiency of the job cycle time is poor. By then all the staffs reporting to me had been worked for company over 15 years and are more senior than me, in their mind they were highly doubt how could a mid 30 years old “kid” can lead the group. After aboard, I was really short of hands due to one of key engineers left. I got to take care most of the jobs by myself and prepared the materials for meeting and presentation. I still remembered how tough the time was. But as one year passed I proved to my VP that I am capable of dealing with all the “stress tests” applied onto me, he added two more engineers into the group.

I still remembered one day about 3 years ago my VP called me into his office and asked me close the door. Then he pulled out his drawer and handed over me a check. And told me from now on I have been recognized as the key contributor for the company and will receive additional incentive bonus at regular basis and the number of stock options will also increase. At that day I could not be happier, since I earned back all the efforts I put on.

As later I am really depressed due to my own family issue and telling my VP that I may look for job at elsewhere and may not stay at bay area anymore. He is one advise me that my expertise is good to serve the company rather than any place else. He fully understood the family difficulty I experienced and allowed me to leave early to pick up kids. I really need to thanks for my VP and my manger’s understanding so I can continue my career at the field I am good at.

Thanks Lord always sends someone nearby me and gives me a lift when I need it most. Without Lord and helpers he sent my life won’t be the same.