When you think of your boss, a part of you, deep inside, thinks of your parents.
It’s an authority thing. It’s also why we often experience a thing called authority projection. Essentially saying, like death and taxes, we think they suck.
Having a boss feels similar to having parents; the relationship elicits similar feelings. This includes positive and negative and mostly is done unconsciously.
It’s also why sometimes we can get lazy in our work, thinking that bosses, much like our mother, will remind us about upcoming deadlines, remind us where we need to be, or what we need to do next.
But this troubling dynamic is not entirely on the employee. Often, managers or bosses lead with a mother/manager or father/manager style, based on manipulation and control. It’s a passive-aggressive controlling style.
Leadership is not about telling, controlling, or micromanaging. It’s about guiding, mentoring, and coaching. A great leader possesses all the qualities we want in a great parent. They are objective, trustworthy, helpful, encouraging, responsible, and a mentor.
