Ramón closed the door with more vigor than usual. His wife, Laura, who was waiting for him in the living room noticed something different at his entrance and quickly asked him with a certain sneer:
What’s up? Does anyone chase you? Is there any fire?
Ramon’s face was strange. Hard to define: worry, hope, fear, pride. It was a whirlwind of ideas unable to tidy them up.
Ramon’s face was strange. Hard to define: worry, hope, fear, pride. It was a whirlwind of ideas unable to tidy them up.
Ramón took off his coat, placed the jacket on the back of the dining room chair, loosened his tie and prepared to sit down before Laura, in an attractive pouf they bought on her distant Moorish honeymoon.
I have been promoted. I will go on to direct the department – Summed up a stumbled Ramon before the increasingly large eyes of his wife.
But that’s fantastic! – She said
Laura undid her yogi stance to literally launch herself to hug him. The hug was sincere and felt as they had long been waiting for this promotion that never came. Laura, on the other hand, in her work had already been recognized but Ramón resisted the appointment of Director of the Department.
Laura immediately realized that Ramón did not share the joy with her. His hug was warmer and his kisses almost an obligation, a formalism.
Laura immediately realized that Ramón did not share the joy with her. His hug was warmer and his kisses almost an obligation, a formalism.
What’s wrong Ramón? – She said leaning back. – You’ve got it. How many times have we talked about this at night in bed?
I know honey – He replied as he threw back his head for air. – I already know it. But now that I have it, I don’t know. It scares me up.
It scares you! It scares you! – She replied in a tone of indignation and finally leaving his arms back to the couch. –What annoys you! But Ramón, You have been waiting for this ascent for almost three years. When they promoted the ball of Jacobo I endured your discomfort for days and nights. And now that they give it to you… does it cuddle you?
Laura. I’m very happy. I swear. – Ramón said with a certain almost childish tone. – What happens is that I don’t know if I will know how to lead my team.
Laura knew that Ramón was an insecure person. So far they had not had children because of Laura’s unwillingness but especially because of Ramón’s fears.
She came to give him a self-help book she found. «If you set your mind you are capable of everything» was titled. The last time she saw it, it was setting the computer table.
Laura. I’m very happy. I swear. – Ramón said with a certain almost childish tone. – What happens is that I don’t know if I will know how to lead my team. There are only five people but it is hard for me to give results for now taking responsibility for the entire department.
Laura’s love for Ramon was infinite. 15 years together. From the university and none of this was new to her. It was not the first time that she worked as an older sister or coach to make Ramón feel better. And today was no exception. She immediately realized that she had to take the helm of the situation.
Laura with the tenderness that characterizes her approached again next to Ramón. He pushed him with his hip to the side to make him hollow and hugged him. He started kissing the corner of his lips, the chin, continued on the face with the cheekbones and reached the ear. And where he expected a kiss she began to speak:
Ramón, the first thing you have to be clear about is that if you have been promoted to that position it is because you can do it. –
Laura was shelling her medicine gently in Ramón’s ears.
Managing teams is not easy. Of course not. I had a hard time getting the recognition of what my team is today. But I did it.
I see, but your job is easier. – Ramón replied with the need of someone who has to say something.
Ah, it’s true! Mister important. I had forgotten that your work is the most transcendental and the most difficult in the world. And not that of others who is sucked. Come on, I don’t know why they pay me. – Laura replied with a scathing bite. – Well, you’re still going to hear what I’m going to tell you.
When I was promoted to lead the research department I was also disturbed how to coordinate a team of eight people. I remember there were trainees, Paloma who had been in the company for more years than I was, José Ángel, who was a fucking sexist and I still had my 30th birthday.
I had a bad time. You will remember that one morning I cried because I didn’t want to go to work. For me it was hell. I tried to make myself respected by being the coolest. And I didn’t understand that the better I behaved with them, the worse they treated me.
Laura kept reminding him of that period of her life that Ramon was noticing that he had not been very aware of.
She ripped a leaf with determination and with condescension she told Ramón: – I will give you the five keys that made me survive in that hostile environment. There they go:
Meanwhile, she got up and picked up a notebook and pen next to the phone. It seemed she wanted to write something down.
This time she sat on the floor. Like the Japanese before the little table in front of the sofa. She ripped a leaf with determination and with condescension she told Ramón: – I will give you the five keys that made me survive in that hostile environment. There they go:
FIRST: You are his boss, not his father. You have to know how to find the intermediate point between authority and companionship. Support yes, protection no. For that they have their mothers and their partners.
SECOND: Everyone, no matter how great, has a possibility of development. You are now responsible for its development. Identify how each one can be better and give them the keys to improve. You will both win: they will recognize their worth. You because they will give it to you.
THIRD: In the face of mistakes, be blunt but understanding. Learn to distinguish when the error lies in apathy or laziness and when in incompetence or ignorance. Punish the first and develop the second.
FOURTH: Make successes something of all. Sometimes you will be unfair because everybody won’t deserve recognition. However, joy is a bottomless sack from which everyone can pick something up.
FIFTH: Never forget that power is ephemeral. Do not bundle yourself with authority. Ok, they are your soldiers. But no matter how good a commander you are, without a good army you won’t win any war. Never forget that it is they who make you boss and not you who make them employees.
The sheet where Laura transcribed these ideas was finished and the last point was written in the margin. He punctuated the phrase and, with the conviction of having done the right thing, he extended his hand to hand it over to Ramon.
Laura returned to her corner and moved from the Japanese posture to that of the lotus. She picked up the book and while Ramon retired to his room with the jacket in one hand and the road map in the other she closed the conversation with a … «You have dinner in the oven.«
Source superior image: https://www.bmmagazine.co.uk