By Brooklyn Morris
We’re celebrating National Boss’s Day at the office today (it was actually Saturday).
This year as the date approached, I began to think about our expectations as we enter the workforce for our first jobs or even to start our careers. Typically, as a teen or wide-eyed 20-something, we strive to find a job we love and can make a substantial salary doing. However, I feel like the wide-eyed 20-somethings forget to look for something that can be just as an important as money: a good boss and company culture.
I think most of us can say that we have had jobs that we enjoy, but boy, our boss was a jerk or the company did not care about its people. Coming to work with a job you love isn’t as fun when you have a boss who doesn’t appreciate you or a company that does nothing to support its staff. It makes for a stressful and toxic work environment. Some may stick it out for the money or the coworkers, but oftentimes companies lose good people because of the lack of support from management.
This brings me to my story. I have worked for some excellent companies and for management that has truly cared about me and the job I was doing at the time. In the same lifetime, I have worked for at least one company that was just a conveyor belt of change and was so out of touch with its employees that it made going to work a nightmare.
It was defeating to go to work for 40 hours a week away from my then 1-year-old and feel completely deflated and sad at the end of each workday. I felt like I was unsupported by the company and left to flounder at a job I would have otherwise been good at given the proper training and resources.
Flash forward, and I have been at Internists Associated for nearly five years. While not every day has been easy, I absolutely love coming to work. I wake up in the morning and look forward to seeing my coworkers, my patients and my BOSSES.
The coworkers I have that surround and support me every day make my job so fun. Our patients are lovely, and I love learning about their stories and helping them in any way I can. And when it comes to my bosses, I am completely lucky.
I have always been about GIRL POWER. I believe women are true superheroes, and when it comes to entrepreneurship and business, the more women in business the better. I am a real “YOU GO GIRL” girl. When I joined the Internists team, I was so excited to have a team of GIRL BOSSES and a true mother/daughter duo.
Cindy Allen and Megan Zelasko are some of the smartest, kindest and hardest working women I know. They set an example for what I want to be “when I grow up.” Working in healthcare has been especially difficult this last year, but Cindy and Megan have never faltered and have managed to manage with dignity and grace during an unprecedented time.
Running a small private practice is not an easy feat, but Cindy and Megan make it look easy.
Let me tell you about Cindy Allen. The woman is really a superhero. She can work every position in our office and will step in and help wherever she is needed. I feel honored to be mentored by her. I joke that she can never really leave because there is so much knowledge in her brain that she has left to teach me.
It is not often you will find a boss that will not sit back and watch you flounder when you are short staffed or need a lending hand, but Cindy always tries to help when she can. Not only is she slightly superhuman, she is genuinely kind and caring. I feel like I am truly supported and empowered by her leadership, and I am lucky to call her my boss.
Of course, a superhero would raise a superhero. Megan Zelasko is literally one of the smartest people I have ever met. Add a grit and determination that is unparalleled in any business setting I have ever been in, and she is a true powerhouse.
From my outsider’s perspective, I feel like her brain never really sleeps because of the level of awesome she works at constantly. I am inspired by her desire for success, and she can always count on me to back her up even when it sounds far fetched. I just believe in her that much. Not only is she an awesome leader and boss, but she is an even better doctor. (How is that even possible?!?) Add being a loving and fun mom to the mix, and there you have it, another superhero.
These are the women I work for. Every day, I am grateful for their guidance, love and knowledge. They have really helped to create a company culture that wants its employees to succeed and feel empowered.
Coming from a previous career situation where I felt stuck and unsupported, Megan and Cindy have blown my expectations out of the water for what a supportive boss should be. They listen, they guide and, most importantly, they remind me that I am important and do a good job. Being the boss isn’t always a walk in the park, but Megan and Cindy TRY hard, and that goes a long way.
Happy National Boss’s Day to two of the best bosses I have ever had. Thanks for inspiring me every day! #girlboss #girlpower #ilovemyjob