When was the last time you saw a close friend whom you haven’t seen in ages? How did you feel afterwards?

Recently my husband and I ventured two hours north to the Gold Country of Northern California to visit my best boss ever, Frank, the manager I never wanted to leave. He and his wife opened up their home to us for the night.

When asked if I wanted to see any special sites, my answer was ‘no, I just want to spend time together.’

This manager has become the role model by which I teach emerging managers to prevent burnout for their teams. I convey these lessons in my new keynote Banish Organizational Burnout to Cultivate Thriving Teams and book, Banish Organizational Burnout: 26 Tips for Managers.

When I first started out as a software consultant Frank taught me many lessons, beyond the technological ones.

He taught me:

#1 How to think independently to solve difficult client problems

#2 How to set healthy boundaries with teammates and clients

#3 How to take risks – by accepting his offer for an opportunity to bring out a talent that I did not even know was there – the software trainer for our division.

In my new keynote I use these stories and more to describe how to become the boss no one wants to leave because they care and they prevent burnout for their team.

I’ll never forget the learning and friendship I experienced with this man. And I’ll never stop thanking him.