On the importance of your very first boss

We all clearly remember our first job and the flurry of emotions that came with it. It is, after all, an important milestone in life. With the first job, comes an array of other firsts - new office, new colleagues, and most importantly, a new boss. The first boss plays a vital role in how we develop as professionals.

More often or not, this individual will instil the significance of workplace punctuality. This comes into play in various ways. Many come to realise this later in their careers when they switch roles or shift workplaces. If you're coddled, let off the hook easily when it comes to meeting deadlines or arriving on time, chances are, further down the line you're in for some serious shock. Understand that like most things in life your boss will also change at some point. When this happens, if the change doesn't go your way, you'll most definitely be in a culture shock, something no individual wants, but requires every once in a while.

As a professional, the significance of accountability in the workplace is tantamount. Everything you do, be it positive or perceived as negative, will have a consequence. Effective bosses let you feel the importance of accountability from the very start. Their supervision will lead to the establishment of the fact that your actions will have real life implications.

The first boss also inspires the leader in you. Moneesha Kalamder, editor of Rantages had something interesting to offer in this regard, "The 4 years of experience with my first boss taught me things about leadership that can only be gleaned from a wise mentor. For me, the boss is more important than the organisation." How you carry on and work up the ladder is mostly dictated by the conviction to your job and the effort that you put in. The real weight and profundity of effort is upheld by a boss.

Cases may not always present themselves in a utopian way. You may have a boss supporting your sluggishness. This is caustic but then again look at the bright side, when you change jobs, your seriousness level will definitely need to rise. The realisation will come, although in a not-so sweet way. Again, a case may present where you feel overlooked and demotivated. This is indirectly preparing you for the harsher realities and if you're fortunate enough, your next boss may just exceed expectations, because you've already faced someone who didn't quite set the bar.

In a nutshell, your first boss will definitely help you with one thing. That is, accustoming yourself to changes, and if you're lucky, the experience may not be all that crude as it may seem in the beginning.

Naveed is studying Marketing at BUP.

Reach him at naveed1327@gmail.com.