How to Spot a Bad Boss

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By Althea DeBrule
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A boss is a person who manages, directs, and exercises authority over workers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 37.7 million individuals are employed as bosses or in related positions. For the past 10 years, various workplace surveys have confirmed that one of the most important elements of job satisfaction is a positive relationship between boss and worker. Most workers would agree that there are both good and bad bosses. Almost everyone has had at least one boss who was less than perfect, and some of us have been fortunate enough to work for good bosses along the way.

Yet there are more stories, jokes and comedy routines about bad bosses than good bosses. Even leadership development programs use exercises that require participants to describe the best and worst bosses they have had. Invariably, the list of attributes of the worst bosses always outnumbers those of the best bosses. This article will help you recognize the signs of a bad boss, and give you tips and strategies for spotting the bad bosses that impact your job and career.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Take a look at what is happening to leaders in your company. In today’s business world, we are seeing more bad bosses than ever before. As a result of corporate downsizing to meet profit demands, overextended bosses lack the authority or are too busy doing the work themselves to provide workers with the support they need. This leads to severe boss stress and extreme pressure on self-esteem. Does your boss show signs of burnout and stress in the workplace? How is he or she handling it?
Step 2

Reflect on your boss' key leadership traits. Given the importance of leaders to an organization, when bosses lack certain key leadership traits, disorder, confusion and mayhem can result. Bad bosses can make going to work annoying, humiliating and infuriating. Is your boss an effective leader?
Step 3

Assess your boss' emotional control. No one likes to be around or near a boss who explodes in a fit of rage each time something goes wrong or a mistake is made. This kind of bad boss causes workplace toxicity, is insensitive to workers and berates them in front of others to make himself/herself look good. Does your boss display adequate emotional control?
Step 4

Check to see if your boss plays favorites. The negative effects of boss favoritism can happen to anyone in the organization. It fuels office politics, creates unfair and uncomfortable situations and can really hurt people in the end—even the workers who are considered the “pets” or favorites. One of the fastest ways for a boss to divide his/her followers and lose their confidence is to play favorites and show partiality. Does your boss treat everyone fairly?
Step 5

Examine your boss' expectations and requirements. A bad boss stays involved in a worker’s job responsibilities to the point of getting in the way. He or she may also have expectations that range from unreasonable to impossible. This kind of boss typically looks for someone to blame, a scapegoat, instead of concentrating on fixing the problem. Does your boss lack insight, discernment or wisdom?
Step 6

Study the impact of your boss' decisions on your career. Unfortunately some bosses do not know how to be bosses. They may be skilled in the actual performance of the task, but do not know how to work with and
manage other people. In today’s business world a boss must be able to do both. What about your boss?
Step 7

Evaluate your unit's morale. Bad bosses produce low morale, poor worker performance, and workplace toxicity—especially when they are double-minded (say one thing, then do another). Because of low self-esteem they encourage workers to report all the office gossip and snoop out damaging information about co-workers and other bosses. The result is a hostile work environment. Is your boss guilty of harassment and saying one thing, but doing another?
Step 8

Look for areas of self-centeredness. Bad bosses can be selfish, self-obsessed, inadequate, insecure and totally insensitive, treating their workers as if they were inhuman. They exaggerate their own contributions and are reluctant to acknowledge the contributions of others. These bosses expect their own needs to be met at all costs and constantly demand respect and consideration while persistently denying similar treatment to workers. Does your boss show concern for others, or is it all-about-him/her?
Step 9

Consider instances of neglect and fear of conflict. Bad bosses do not confront poor performance; but allow workers to neglect their duties and look the other way when they perform inadequately instead of confronting the problem and resolving the issue. Does your boss manage conflict well?
Step 10

Bosses & Orchards

Read Bosses & Orchards, and learn about how to be a good boss and effective leader.

Comments

cherold598 said

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on 6/11/2009 Excellent advice about bad bosses. Written well. 5* and recommend.

ginafur said

on 2/12/2009 Great tips. I'm afraid a lot of bosses have their jobs because of who they know, not how hard they work. Thanks for the tips. 5*

sneedc said

on 12/18/2008 I agree, we need strong, effective leaders as bosses--that rings true in all corporate settings; great, thorough article!

ZACHARYFARINA said

on 9/2/2008 Ms. Fischer: Very solid article. Let me add one thing. We all need an exit strategy from a bad boss. Because of my own "bad boss" situation that turned into an ugly legal situation, my attorney introduced me to badreferences.com. They caught my "bad boss" defaming me to potential employers. Otherwise, I would still have that albatross around my neck.

changeling said

on 7/27/2008 Excellent article; well written and detailed esp. in this time when people are looking for jobs this will guide them in better job choices. 5 stars!