Transitioning to Being an Employee

Making the transition from being an owner to being an employee can really be hard. First there’s your pride. Then it takes getting used to taking orders from someone when you didn’t used to have to answer to someone but yourself. A friend of mine used to own a small cafeteria. He’s a great cook and his customers loved his cooking. But when popular fast foods and hipper restaurants came to the city, he just couldn’t keep up with competition. Slowly his customers dwindled until finally he decided to close shop.

His cousin heard about this and offered to buy his business out instead on the condition that he would remain on the establishment to do the cooking. He readily and happily agreed. At first it was fine. But after some time, he was getting tired of getting orders from his cousin and having to explain the expenses and everything.

He started thinking about resigning from his post. On the other hand, he told himself that he gave his cousin his word so he better keep it. As professional that he was, he did stay in the business.

That was six years ago. The business flourished and his cousin was so happy with him that he made him partner. But that is beside the point, being professional means keeping your word. Even if it was so hard for him, he stayed and did his work. In addition to that, my friend said he learned a lot from the experience. He learned more about the business side of things rather than just concentrating on cooking. Also, doing hard work could really have its rewards. Look at my friend now. Instead of losing a business and being jobless altogether, he’s got the job that loves most and he was able to keep the business as well.

Can a Good Employee Be a Good Boss?

Can a good employee be a good boss? I guess the answer to this question is it depends. Certainly there are good employees who can be good bosses and there are some who cannot. Likewise, there are good bosses who could never have been good lowly employees.

To be a good employee or a good staff, one must be a good follower. I think that is the first thing. When the boss says to do this and to do that, a good employee would do it right away and finish the job fast and accurately. But it does not end there, however. A good employee should also have the initiative. He must do beyond what he’s been told and do things which would make his work look better and even make his or her boss look good.

The transition then starts when a lowly employee gets promoted or when he starts a business of his own. How will then he cope up with his new role? If he was only a good follower, it would not be enough to make him successful in the new shoes he has to fill. But if he or she has the initiative, there’s a greater chance for him or for her to be a great boss. Because if he or she has the initiative, he or she would know how to steer his team or her own staff to the direction he or she wants to take them. He would know how to direct the efforts of everyone.

Some are born leaders while others have to learn how to lead. But if he or she can do this effectively, then goals will always be met and the company or the business will surely proper.