PPB October 2019

Laura Bosse, PHR, SHRM-CP, MAS, CIL Vice President Geiger Lewiston, Maine Years managing others: 30+ Why she was nominated: “She is by far the most balanced, fair, intelligent and hardest working boss I have ever had,” says nominator Maria Hoffman, who’s reported to Bosse for over four years. “She gets in the trenches with her troops when needed and when she is not needed, she allows us to do the jobs she hired us to do and trusts that our work will get done and done well. She is a fearless leader—the total package in a boss. She has been here 50 years and I hope she never retires.” Laura’s insights on her best boss: I’d like to take this opportunity to honor two people. Peter Geiger has been a great boss because he has confidence inme, keeps me informed and is a great rolemodel for being a good corporate steward and extending his leadership throughout the community. He is thoughtful, generous and caring, and has been a huge part of making Geiger the respected company that it is. Although I’ve never worked directly for her, Jo-an Lantz has also always been a leader andmentor fromwhom I have drawn resources over the years. As our newCEO, she has a lot on her shoulders yet always makes time to discuss a business issue withme. She works hard and has done a great deal for our company and our industry. Her drive and energy are amazing, and her accomplishments are inspiring. Her advice for managing others: Be the leader you would like to have. I like to create an environment where people can grow to their full potential, and where it is safe to fail andmake mistakes as long as they learn from them. Being a role model is important, as well as knowing when people can fly on their own and when they need your support, encouragement and the proper tools and information to do their jobs well. It’s also critical that you balance empathy with the need to make difficult business decisions with compassion and fairness. I have a great team, which makes it easy to be a great boss. Are You AGreat Boss? If you can check off these attributes, your team is lucky to have you . You don’t have obvious favorites among your team. You treat your employees like human beings. You are willing to try new things to experiment and innovate. You hold everyone on the team accountable, including yourself. You give support and build trust. You remove obstacles. You’re a good coach. You’re able to manage expectations. You give feedback. You keep the environment open and transparent. You ask for insight. You explain yourself. You care about solutions. You care about challenging your employees. You don’t micromanage, but you’re not too hands-off. You check in with your employees. You have a sense of humor. You care about the dreams and goals of your employees. You’re not nice just for the sake of being nice. You’re a good listener. You take an interest in your employees’ lives. Source: Excerpted from an article by Jacquelyn Smith in Business Insider Laura Bosse, left, with her nominator Maria Hoffman. 26 | OCTOBER 2019 | FEATURE | Best Bosses Of 2019