On Thursday, November 18 I started the hashtag #theidealboss as an extension of this post from an interview I gave online at join.me. Based on the reactions I got in the session, it seemed others would like playing this game, and I also had plenty more to add.

There were thousands of tweets that day. Below are some of my favorites of mine and others. Which one is the best?

Mine:

• #theidealboss signs my expense report without reading it too carefully.
• #theidealboss never traps everyone in his (or her) office saying “one more thing” past 6:00.
• #theidealboss can deflect blame away from the department: “these are not the scapegoats you are looking for…”
• #theidealboss doesn’t hold you accountable for the actions of people who don’t report to you.
• #theidealboss knows that just because the default meeting length in the system is 1 hour doesn’t mean he has to use all 60 minutes.
• #theidealboss doesn’t forget the project plan and agree to anything every time another big shot walks by.
• #theidealboss doesn’t berate you for “being on your iPhone too much in meetings” and then play games on his iPad in meetings next to you.
• #theidealboss gives you ample warning before “surprise” drug tests.
• #theidealboss doesn’t call you after hours because he knows that it can wait until morning. Everything can wait until morning.
• #theidealboss doesn’t openly resent people for taking the paid time off that they are entitled to.
• #theidealboss doesn’t mind you tweeting about him under an assumed name such as @MeetingBoy.
• #theidealboss buys everyone a 2011 Meeting Boy calendar for their cube: http://MeetingBoy.com/calendar
• #theidealboss leaves at 5:00 so you can leave at 5:05.

My favorites of others:

• @DadNeedsADrink: #TheIdealBoss is an oxymoron.
• @LisaG732: #theidealboss sets an example by coming in late and leaving early every day.
• @Splinterphobic: #theidealboss will do something about their breath come 3pm.
• @LisaG732: #theidealboss has no idea what Twitter is or how it may negatively affect employee productivity.
• @Crawford: #theidealboss doesn’t get you pulled into legal matters far above your pay grade!
• @ladyrider07: #theidealboss would not be in “freak out” mode when I walk in the door…..every single day!
• @EllieM72: #theidealboss let’s you play on twitter during business hours because he’s just as addicted to it as you are.
• @groverviolet: #theidealboss doesn’t agree with you in private and throw you under the bus in a meeting.
• @sue215: #theidealboss doesn’t call after sending an email - to read me the email.
• @SnarkyT: #theidealboss is flexible. How else is he going to get his head out of his own ass?
• @creepy_shoes: when #theidealboss asks about the status of your ‘deck’ he is asking about a home improvement project. #ihateppt
• @SpyArchive: #theidealboss screams with you, not at you.
• @funnyguy: #TheIdealBoss is always on the road with bad cell reception and no wi-fi
• @Blue_Crab: #theidealboss is able to translate Awkward Guy - speak into English.
• @CandyCoatdChell: #theidealboss remembers who REALLY did the work when they get accolades for it, and shares the credit
• @FDZMORAN: #theidealboss WILL NOT call you on your day off or during your vacation with dumb ass questions or requests
• @Joi_the_Artist: #theidealboss does not put you through ten revisions of a single document because she can’t make up her mind what she wants to say.
• @BlondHousewife: #theidealboss can actually differentiate between mindless corporate jargon and actual guidance.
• @thedrew: #theidealboss never uses phrases like “promoting corporate synergy” or “30,000 ft view”
• @dabarron: #theidealboss doesn’t send you work related emails while he is at church and expects you to be at work to deal with it.
• @sherkauf: #theidealboss would tell you to take the rest of the day off just because it’s beautiful out
• @snarkface_lex: #theidealboss will fire that one co-worker of yours just because he/she is a jerk. And then throw a party.
• @benlleighton: #theidealboss doesn’t give company presentations about work-life balance and then cancel holidays with one days notice.
• @cdkidd: #theidealboss doesn’t ask you your opinion and then cut you off in the middle because it isn’t the same as his.
• @BlondHousewife: #theidealboss does not go into a full panic, the moment something does not go their way.
• @mariasangria99: #theidealboss doesn’t use the words “perspective” or “pontificate” more than once in a conversation.
• @Dolanite: #theidealboss does not write you an 800 word e-mail about how important procedures are instead of reviewing the procedure he made you write.
• @emileeshake: #theidealboss knows what the word “delegate” means and doesn’t micromanage.
• @AuntMarvel: #theidealboss doesn’t force everyone to support his pet charity and then get upset when you ask him to support yours, too.
• @webiegal: #theidealboss doesn’t try to have a conversation with you while in the bathroom.
• @TinyJesus: #theidealboss won’t stand idly by and watch you get crucified.
• @emileeshake: #theidealboss doesn’t ask you to create a detailed spreadsheet, then upon completion, disregards it asking for a one-page recap.
• @dvsjr: #theidealboss doesn’t ask his IT staff to fix his Mother’s, Wife’s, Brother in law’s, niece’s, nephew’s, and his own home PC “as a favor”.
• @merriekerrie: #theidealboss doesnt ‘sit down’ to ‘get ducks in a row’, or ever ask u to ‘push the envleope’ while ‘thinking outside the box’!
• @CarolEdie: #theidealboss dies unexepectedly leaving me 10 million dollars.

Which one is your favorite?