What Your Boss Had to Say About the Trade Show

That Trade Show Your Boss Went to

• Not too many new things really, same ole same ole
• A general response acknowledging a few things learned
• What seminar? We never made it out of the bars
• I learned such and such. I really like it. We’re going to try it out
• I learned such and such. I really like it. It’d be nice to try out

These responses carry the potential of unbolting the cover off your boss’s head, peeking inside and discovering how he feels about moving his business forward. The goal here is to gain a better understanding as to whether or not he has the desire and is capable of growing the business. Think of it like this: your boss is responsible for planting, caring for and harvesting a garden. This food keeps you alive. But you want to be more than just alive. You want to grow a strong, healthy body and mind. There are places your boss can go to learn how to achieve the results of producing food that will do just that. You need to know if your boss is satisfied with just keeping you alive or if he wants you to grow.

One can take each of these responses and by way of questioning, dig deep into your boss’s psyche. Unless you have a deep affection for him, it’s probably not worth it. By way of a few questions you can gain a toe hold on understanding where he is coming from without getting in too deep.  Overall, how your boss approaches trade shows and opportunities of learning for himself, should factor into whether or not this company is a fit for you.  If however, one day you want to be a manager yourself, it might be worth a shot. Take a second here and pretend you are a manager.

You need to have certain things accomplished at the end of a service call. The technician must have paperwork signed, have the customer fill out a short feedback form and offer the customer a service contract. You have a technician who is not doing these things. You need to understand why he isn’t doing them. You take time to meet with him and learn. You find out he is lazy and will not comply with instructions, or maybe you discover he is painfully shy with customers and could use social skill training. You have to make a decision, is he worth working with or is it time to send him on his way.