From the article: What Makes a Bad Boss - Bad?
Want to avoid becoming a bad boss? Afraid that you may already be considered a bad boss? Just want to commiserate with other people who have bad bosses? Here are your thoughts about what makes a bad boss, well - bad? Have more thoughts about bad bosses? Share them here. Share your opinion.
Home furnishing consultant
- I have been working for Ikea for 8 years. I never had problems until a new boss came. My other coworker warned me of her behavior but I did not pay attention, But, now I admit she is evil. I feel like she is jealous of the work I do because I am one of the best sales persons at work I do sell over $100,000 a month. I deal with International customers, etc. She is the business manager, so she should bring more money to the store but she wants to combine my sales which are non-commercial with hers that are business. She already put me in bad terms with a higher boss. She's out to get me. Last Friday I was talking to her and I think I have been under a lot of stress so that I had a panic attack and the ambulance took me to the emergency room. So I did not work today and I will have to see my doctor on Monday. So, please, if there is someone there to help me...
- —Guest nata
Bad boss...
- That is him - bully and belittles his employees in front (and back) of coworkers whenever he is in a bad mood or on purpose. He is rude, mean, nasty, disrespectful to the employees below him. But, he is very nice and respectful to his superiors. Maybe this is why he can continue the practice, regardless of how many employees' complain.
- —Guest Guest 98
How do you change a bad boss?
- Other than termination, which in all likelihood will be the outcome, how do you train and coach a "bad boss" see the error of his/her ways and change habits and behaviors?
- —Guest Daphne
Stuck in the middle
- I have a unique work situation where I report to a director and depend on him for promotions, raises, etc. but receive work assignments from a team lead. I barely work directly with the man responsible for evaluating my performance and the team lead provides him with her evaluation of my performance. To add to this, the team lead very transparently wants my director's job and everyone seems to see this except for him. She is bringing in money and making him look good on the surface while undermining him behind his back. So I am in a total lose-lose situation where, when I align my priorities with his, my team lead gives me a negative review and, when I align my priorities with hers I appear to not be pulling my weight. I feel as though I was hired to be a pawn in some twisted game of office politics. So while my real boss is busy being completely oblivious, he's about to lose a competent, loyal, and hardworking employee to the woman who will be his boss next year.
- —Guest Exasperated
Bad Boss
- It has a lot to do with the person's personality; there is something seriously wrong with this person. Instead of seeking professional help, the individual makes other people's worklife miserable. A boss is expected to motivate, inspire and guide the employees, to stimulate performance and productivity in the workplace, not exploit and harass the employees. A bad boss hurts the Company/Organization; a bad boss lacks the ability to motivate self, and promote their own personal growth, emotional and mental balance to fit in effectively in the workplace. A bad boss is a self destructive person; most of the time this individual destroys employees with their unethical conduct and questionable behaviors. A bad boss is capable of change, it takes a powerfully motivated person with guts to accept self, and make the changes in areas of personal growth and workplace performance.
- —Guest Jacqueline Walters
Bad Boss
- My boss is a bully. He derogatorily discusses staff with visitors to the extent that those people would call to advise "that you be careful with your boss." He hardly forgives if you offend him because even after apologizing, he'd still make sure you are punished. He believes, as a professor, he knows it all and all other persons are fools.
- —Guest Ehinalaba
Bad Boss Bias
- Most bosses don't aim to be lousy leaders, but a few character flaws and a dash of ego can derail even those with the best intentions. I have found several things to be true. 1. Bosses, HR or otherwise, who have age hang-ups, will often project their aging fears and prejudices onto others rather than embracing a truly talented/experienced worker. This applies to both men and women. Advice — change jobs, you won't get promoted. 2. The word "fire" is often mis-used. When people are truly "fired" for stealing or harassment,they generally do not qualify for unemployment benefits and they do not receive severance packages. Advice — educate your teams to use the correct terminology. 3. It's a myth that the best employees are always kept. Layoffs can be rife w/political overtones including favoritism (which affects morale), jealousy (you have more skills or education than your boss) and being a "fall guy/gal." Advice - work for someone who truly values your skillset and practices integrity.
- —strait_tok
Unprofessional, Harassing Manager
- This is actually my 1st job. And I'm still trying to explore career life. I am working 2 months with my manager, who keeps on bothering me. He initiates conversations about sex, whenever we chat online, and even asked me if he can make out with me. He's being unprofessional, and disrespecting me. I feel awkward now when I'm with him and the team. I'm no longer comfortable being with him. But he keeps on bugging me, texting and calling me. He's really distressing my relationship with my husband. And, I'm planning whether I will let my superior know about this, and I'm planning to resign. Please help me with this. Suggestions will be much appreciated! Thanks!
- —prominent.apprentice
Bad Boss
- I had the worst boss. She hung a poster up stating that I was old and outdated. (Even though I exceeded on my reviews.) I am 54 years old. (Yes, I am too old for this type of craziness.) When I complained to corporate when she did these things. I was fired! The situation is going through an investigation, because of violations of EEO, which is taking forever. This does not pay the bills. Process is too long. Never wait to get fired, move on before this happens because most new hiring bosses will ask, "Were you ever fired." I lost new jobs because I had to answer "yes" on the applications. Hoping for good results out of this whole thing.
- —Guest B. A.
My Opinion
- There is nothing worse than being employed to do a job, and the boss wants to do it for you. Why did they bother to employ someone? Another thing is to continually ask what you're doing?
- —Guest My opinion
Work is everything, micromanaging
- I have a boss who works about 16 hours a day. He sends emails even at 3am. He tries to control everything and micromanages everything. He routinely comes up to my staff and asks them what they are working on. He questions almost every decision, many of which are subjective and suggests it should have been done another way. Sometimes you are deadlocked and cannot do anything because you have a problem to solve but it's against the rules to get the tools to solve the problem, so people just stay to collect a paycheck. Even when there is no problem he creates a problem. The staff turnover is very high. We lost a good guy last week. He constantly asks me to arrange a meeting because there are 'things that need to be discussed' and reprimands me. He is so paranoid about keeping his job he worries about the potential for the potential to cause a problem. He takes rules and procedures to the Nth level. He totally stifles creativity and makes me lose all will to do anything.
- —Guest Nick
Love/hate
- My worst boss either loved you (and you could do no wrong) or hated you (and you could do no right). I worked there for ten years and watched the parade of talented, intelligent, dedicated people who would come in to do their job and get praised and empowered...until they did something the boss didn't like. Then they would be undercut, punished, humiliated, and sabotaged until they quit. What a waste.
- —Guest Anon!!
not bad
- i agree with the guide's opinion, just testing functionality.
- —bear_chen2009
Two-faced
- My boss would always misrepresent everything. He would say things like, "I talked to an expert who advised we do it this way." When pressed on the expert's name, he admitted to, "Reading the information off the Internet". When asked to provide the URL, he could not. --It was just his opinion.
- —Guest -just a guy
Bad Boss
- Most Bosses don't care to take the time to talk to employees or to understand what is happening in the work place, instead they listen to hearsay to solve any issues.
- —Guest Rway
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