During my intern years, there was one guy - KC - who really had it figured out.
He treated everyone professionally, asked after sick wives or kids off to college, and always helped people out of a jam. He spoke softly, but radiated a warm confidence that instilled trust.
He was also the Departmental Director.
I remember walking in really early one summer morning, catching him at his hood. At the time, he had about 20 people working on his program; he didn't have to run reactions or take spectra anymore.
Full of naïveté, I asked him "Hey, what are you doing in here? You pay people for this!"
He smiled, and said "I just love being in lab. It's the only way I feel like I'm really part of things."
It's been many years, but I still remember how his face lit up as he said that.
Someday, I want to be more like KC.
It's also a great example of leadership. I was an intern once (QC department, big pharma company) and had a manager who felt the same way. She loved the lab but obviously accepted the trade-off with her position. When she had time, though, she really made sure to get her hands dirty with the newbies in the department, like me. It really created an atmosphere of respect that I would definitely emulate when I get into a position of authority.
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