National Boss’ Day – What Will You Do For Your Boss?

It was 1993. I was flying from Houston to Dallas on Southwest Airlines seated next to Carol. We were both employees of Southwest, she a Customer Service Agent and I a Marketing Manager.

“You know what today is”, she asked?

“Yes”, I replied, “it’s National Boss’ Day”.

“Well”, she continued, “we happen to have the best boss in the whole wide world. Wouldn’t it be fun if next year, on this day, we could run a full page ad thanking Herb and wishing him a Happy Boss’ Day?”

I thought it was a great idea, and I filed it in the back of my “things to do next year” list. A few months later I was sitting in a marketing meeting and brought up Carol’s idea. It was met with great enthusiasm. “In fact”, said the Vice President of Advertising and Promotions, “it’s such a great idea that if you cannot get all the employees to donate enough to buy the ad, the Southwest Airlines Advertising team will kick in the rest.”

Thus the campaign to raise enough money to buy a full-page ad in the USA TODAY newspaper began. To no one’s surprise, the employees participated in droves. In no time we had raised the $55,000 to buy the ad. Harder than raising the money was keeping it a secret from Herb!

 

The ad cAme out on Boss’ Day in 1994 and the story of the employees’ adoration of our boss became legendary. As predicted by the promotions department, many newspapers picked up the story and Southwest Airlines received much unsolicited and welcomed press. Needless to say, Herb was very humbled and touched. Here is what the ad said:

 

 

 

Thanks Herb:

• For remembering every one of our names

• For supporting the Ronald McDonald House

• For helping load baggage on Thanksgiving

• For giving everyone a kiss (and we mean everyone)

• For listening

• For running the only profitable major airline

• For singing at our holiday party

• For singing only once a year

• For letting us wear shorts and sneakers to work

• For golfing at the LUV Classic with only one club

• For outtalking Sam Donaldson

• For riding your Harley Davidson into Southwest Headquarters

• For being a friend, not just a boss

 

Happy Boss’ Day from each of your 16,000 employees

 

Since leaving Southwest Airlines, I’ve met lots of leaders who are considered great bosses. In fact I wrote about several in my new book, “How to Create a Happy Workplace”. Great bosses are like pure gold - rare and very valuable. So, don’t forget to pat your own boss on the back on October 16^th, this year. Bosses need recognition too!

Lorraine Grubbs is an author, speaker and team builder. To learn more visit www.lorrainegrubbs.com