Andrew
WHILE being a boss is largely viewed as a measure of success, it is not without its fair share of challenges.
Bosses are going through a lot in the organisations they lead.
At social and family level, they get no respite as there seems to be an unwritten law somewhere that they should shoulder all financial burdens.
Called “humambo”, “utungamiri”, “changamire”, “utekwatekwa”, “big dhara”, “shefu”, “vahombe”, “vadharikeni”, “leader”, among a host of other names, people in leadership positions go through a lot.
Once you are thrust into a leadership position, you are given so many nicknames.
Also, you are accused of being responsible for every bad thing that happens to fellow workers.
But the same workers often do not hesitate or think twice about claiming credit for everything good that you would have done.
“The boss’ method of doing this is long and laborious. Were it not for my ingenuity, I am not sure the task would have been completed by now,” you hear people saying in kombis on their way to work.
It is not unusual to meet a group of workers conspiring against their boss.
“Munhu uya anoda kumbokwaturwa kuti aonerane nesu. He is full of himself, so tinofanira kumbomutonhodza,” you hear people plotting.
This partly explains why some bosses make it a rule never to mix and mingle with workers at company functions.
Some people may get tipsy and use this as an opportunity to score cheap points against the boss in ‘silly’ arguments that may arise.
Gentle reader, the moment one becomes a boss, he has to contend with being lied to on a daily basis by people unjustifiably seeking time away from work.
“Boss, I just do not understand what is happening in my family. Last Thursday I lost an uncle and during burial, his son passed on. I am just coming in here only to receive a message that my brother’s daughter-in-law is seriously ill. I don’t think she will make it,” you hear people lying through their teeth.
Some co-workers will make it a point that whenever they sit down with the boss, they never miss the opportunity to ask for lousy favours.
“How lucky am I to have an understanding boss like you? I have a lot of off days that I have accrued over the years and I think I must take these first and then combine them with my annual leave days because I need to go farming. To succeed in agriculture you have to be on the ground, so please allow me time away to work on this project,” some people will say.
Whenever they go broke or feel they need extra money to impress a new lover, a good number of people do not hesitate to knock on the boss’ door seeking his signature on a loan application form.
“I have financial challenges of a personal nature, so may you allow me to get a small advance salary so that I can fix things . . . ” they normally would say.
As I commit pen to paper, gentle reader, the offices of many bosses are full of pebbles (miteuro) from apostolic sects thrown by workers seeking to gain their favour.
And self-styled prophets always promise that they can solve work-related problems through prayer.
Some people actually do not seem to appreciate that bosses need privacy and often give out their phone number accompanied with the warning: “Musazoti ndini ndakakupayi number dzavo.”
From dawn to sunset, the boss’s cellphone will be ringing like a switchboard as people seek all manner of favours.
Finding genuine love is also a major challenge for most managers, as some love interests do not have good intentions.
“Do not spurn his proposal. Just go along with it and force him to marry you then apply for divorce after a few months. Unenge watozviwanira mari, mota nemba,” I heard a certain young woman being told by her cowardly aunt.
The moment some family members discover that someone is a boss at work, they immediately stop contributing towards the purchase of food and coffins at funerals, leaving them to shoulder the burden.
“I can’t compete with him. He must pay for everything because he has the cash,” you hear people saying.
Being a boss is really a dog’s life, but someone has to live it.
Inotambika mughetto.
Online Reporter