National Boss Day – For The Success Of A Leader

By Suparna Chakaraborthy

National Boss Day, started in the year 1958 in US, is a day dedicated to all the boss"s, who ensure the proper working of a company. No matter how much you crib of his strictness, it is the boss who leads a team to the heights of success and with him we succeed in our career.

The National Boss Day was initiated by Patricia Bays Haroski. She was an employee at State Farm Insurance Company. Once she had forgotten the birthday of her boss, who was also her father. The date was 16th of October. She then proposed this day to be dedicated to all the bosses. Four years later in 1962, Illinois Governor Otto Kerner, declared the day officially.


National Boss Day is now celebrated internationally. Countries like Australia, India, South Africa, Ireland and UK, celebrate this day. A boss is the leader, who supports the growth of the company and of the employees. For the growth of both, it is very important that the boss and the employee share a cordial relationship. To be a successful boss, is not everyone"s cup of tea. It requires leadership qualities, great observation and tact.

Lets look at some of the qualities of a good boss –

1. Think Like A Employee – While making a decision, think like an employee. You should always put yourself in the shoes of an employee before taking a decision. This will help you make a right decision which will be acceptable even by the people working under you.

2. Work With Them – Rather than just planning the course of action, work with them by staying among them. This will give them the moral boost up and also help you analyse their way and style of work.

3. Understand Each One"s Caliber – Every single person has their own qualities. Understand it and help him also to realize it. Make best use of that quality in him. He will be the best at it because it comes naturally. All it needs is your moral boost up.

4. Your Team Is The Best – Only when the boss is proud of his team, will then the employees be proud of themselves. When the boss says that he has a best team, it works as a great source of motivation for the employees to work better.

5. Professionalism - A boss maybe sensitive to the problems and needs of his employees but should never be emotional while making a decision. Be professional and maintain the dignity of your position. This will help maintaining the difference between an employee and the boss, which s needed. If the person under you does not look at you as a senior, he won"t give importance to your instructions.

6. Tough Decisions – Sometimes at times you may need to be harsh regarding work. Be realistic with your decision but if you are sure it will earn profit and benefit everyone, then don"t feel bad about it.

On National Boss Day, these advices may help every boss evaluate their performance as a boss and the advice to all the employees would be to celebrate the national boss day by acknowledging the importance of the presence of a boss. This National Boss Day, is your chance to show gratitude to your boss by sending him a gift.


Patricia Bays Haroski, then an employee at State Farm Insurance Company in Deerfield, Ill., registered the holiday with the Chamber of Commerce of the United States. She designated October 16 as the special day because it was her father's birthday. Ms. Haroski's purpose was to designate a day to show appreciation for her boss and other bosses. She also hoped to improve the relationship between employees and supervisors. She believed young employees often do not realize the challenges bosses face in running a business.

She was working as a secretary for State Farm Insurance Company in Deerfield, Illinois at the time and chose October 16 because she forgot that the birthday of her boss, who was her father, was actually on the 16th. Four years later in 1962, Illinois Governor Otto Kerner backed Haroski's registration and officially proclaimed the day. National Boss' Day has become an international celebration in recent years and now is observed in countries such as Australia, India and South Africa and very recently Ireland and the UK.

Hallmark did not offer a Boss' Day card for sale until 1979. It increased the size of its National Boss Day line by 90 percent in 2007.

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