My boss's little secret...

I often complain about my boss. I think everyone does that once in a while. I know I've written about him before but decided I would go into a little more detail today. My boss walks around the office with a crotchety, grumpy demeanor almost all the time. He has this truly annoying habit of saying "Oh yeah, that's what I was just thinking..." when you make a suggestion and you know he wasn't thinking whatever it was at all. He also says things like "Remind me again about..." and "I was working on this at home over the weekend...". The first statement is usually said about something that's been in discussion for weeks proving that he hasn't paid a smitch of attention to anything. The second statement is a bold faced lie because there is NO WAY he was working at home over the weekend. He and I have one of those strange relationships of mutual regard, camaraderie, and the occasional snit fit thrown in. On more than one occasion I have told him "Shut the hell up!" to which he replies silently using his middle finger.

Yet there is more to this working relationship than meets the eye. My boss is someone I can rely on completely when I need someone to have my back. He's also someone who appreciates what I do, knows that he could not do it without me, and makes sure that those higher up than him know it. He often talks about having me replace him someday when he is ready to retire. A thought that makes me shudder. Not because I don't want him to retire but because I refuse to work or live here that long! He's capable of great kindness in his old, grumpy way. When I was in serious financial straits a couple of years ago he walked into my office and tossed several hundred dollars on my desk. No words, no expectations of being paid back - just a nod to say "here, take this, you need it right now." He's the type of guy who doesn't take himself too seriously which you can only know about him if you take the time to get to know him. His exterior is all work. He scares people. Most people think he's difficult to read so they're a bit afraid of him. He can annoy the living crap out of any one. He's prone to snap decisions that, more often than not, go awry and make more work for everyone. He closes his eyes when he speaks to give him the air of deep thought but mostly it just looks silly. And if you call him on it, he appreciates you immediately. He can give as good as he gets and would give you the shirt off his back.

There are two other supervisors here and I can honestly say they hate him. I've often heard them complaining about him and his ways. I think the problem is they just don't get him. He has a wealth of knowledge but a short term memory loss. He has a rich personal history but rarely shares it with anyone because it makes him feel too exposed. He can be gruff and frank which sometimes hurts feelings. I've seen people fall to tears when he's gotten angry. But I know his secret. He's just a really nice guy under all that rough facade.

Here's just one more example. For the past two years I've been struggling to get our agency in the mix of managed care for the disabled. It's been a long uphill battle and it has taken it's toll on many people here. It's plain hard and the stress is not something everyone can stand. I've managed. The other day my crabby boss came in my office and said "You work too hard and you don't make enough." He then said, "Seriously, we could never have done this without you. I sure as hell couldn't have done it. Not without losing my sanity. So here...". He tossed a yellow slip on my desk. Mr. Crankyknowitall had gone to the board and convinced them to give me a 10% raise. I was floored. But it just goes to show what I have known all along. My boss is a gem.