How to Spot a Bad Boss

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 ones along the way. Yet there are more stories, jokes and comedy routines about bad bosses than good ones. Even leadership training 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 good ones. This article will give you tips and strategies for spotting the bad bosses that impact your job and career.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Observation of your boss
• Time for reflection
• Objectivity in assessing your boss

1. Stress 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 worker stress and extreme pressure on self-esteem. Does your boss show signs of burnout and stress? How is he or she handling it?
2. Leadership Reflect on your boss' key leadership traits. Given the importance of leaders to an organization, when bosses lack certain key traits, disorder, confusion and mayhem can result. Bad bosses can make going to work annoying, humiliating and infuriating. Is your boss an effective leader?
3. Control 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 is insensitive to workers and berates them in front of others to make himself/herself look good. Does your boss display adequate emotional control?
4. Favorites Check to see if your boss plays favorites. The negative effects of boss favoritism can happen to anyone in the organization. It 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?
5. Expectations 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?
6. Decisions 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?
7. Morale Evaluate your unit's morale. Bad bosses produce low morale, poor worker performance, and a bad-working atmosphere—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. Is your boss guilty of saying one thing, but doing another?
8. Self-Centered 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?
9. Conflict Consider instances of neglect and fear of conflict. Bad bosses do not confront poor performance; 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?
10. Bosses & Orchards Read Bosses & Orchards, and learn about how to be a good boss and effective leader.

Tips & Warnings

• You must learn to be a good boss! It doesn’t just come naturally. Most of us learn how by watching our own bosses and from making our own mistakes (school of hard knocks).
• While a boss can absorb a lot from books written by leadership gurus and take a myriad of leadership skill courses, unless he or she changes behavior, attitude and actions, the result will not necessarily be a good one. The overarching goal is to create a respectful and productive relationship with workers.
• Anyone can act as a boss; however, some people have greater skill and potential than others. Not every boss can be a great boss, but every boss can be a better one.