7 Types of ‘Bad Bosses’ and the lessons they taught me!
Bad Bosses? Everyone gets atleast one during a corporate career!
I strongly believe that everyone who enters your life, does so for a reason. These lessons can vary from enabling you to be your best self to really understanding how the world works and not present a naive picture for everyone to exploit!
I have had my share of ‘Bad Bosses’. Here is what i learnt from some of these personalities!
Type 1: The drama queen: They love to blow things out of proportion, in public (especially in front of their bosses), for the smallest of things. More often than not, they also have a strong role to play in how the situation got created in the first place!
I could have called out his bluff right there, but i decided to setup a meeting with him and his boss and clearly outlined the (in)actions that led to the problem. Needless to say, he was much more careful than that.
Learning: Admonish in Private, appreciate in public.
Type 2. The Attention seekers: They would use borrowed statements, borrowed insights, stress their unrelated view points and more often than not steer conversations away from being productive. I did this..I know that..I think…is what you will end up hearing.
Lacking in self-esteem and with a strong FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out), they try to make up for it by making themselves heard.
Learning: Never ever undermine your worth. There is no point in comparing your chapter 3 with someone’s 50 and trying to fake it! You have your ‘flow’ zones where you are the boss!
Attention and respect will come automatically when you are an expert at what you do!
Type 3. The Credit snatchers: Imagine working hard the whole night to come up with a brilliant presentation, only to know the next afternoon that it has been presented and you did not feature on the updated invite!
Such things initially hurt, but then once you realise that your knowledge is your own. You cannot get upset over someone’s insecurity or incompetence. Sooner or later, the light will shine through!
Learning: Be the expert — as a true leader there is no substitution for expertise. Even in unrelated areas, one should know enough to ask the right questions that would make the presenter think and refine. Jeff Bezos challenges even his designers and architects, forcing them to simplify and optimise their approaches!
Type 4. The ‘because I said so’ types: Logic defies them and a Cost-benefit analysis would suggest the opposite of what they prescribe. You know these types when you do not receive any supporting evidence, just the directive.
Learning: Facts and data — do not make any decisions without these. Gut reactions also need to be put forward in the right light. Business cases for decisions need to be watertight and not offer a chance for others to question!
Fear can never be a real-motivator for top performance. Encouragement & Appreciation go a long way than Belittling and Distrust!
Type 5. The ‘micro-manager’: Ever had an occasion where you sent out a well-researched article and business case for feedback, and all you got in return was some unnecessary language corrections! There is a tendency to take control of each and everything, stifling work, creativity and performance!
Learning: Trust and delegation work wonders. People, if given responsibility and accountability, will deliver without micromanagement. Timely follow-ups and empowered status reporting — this is all that is needed!
Type 6. The ‘Anti-feedback’ types: Though lip service is paid to provide constructive criticism, they can hardly handle it. A subordinate getting the better of them is something that their ego can never handle, no matter how useful the lesson.
Learning: You cannot correct everybody and everything. Let it go. Subtle hints at feedback may work but more often than not, misfire if the person is not capable of taking feedback!
If you want someone to perform his best — try a mix of providing responsibility, a sense of belonging and a meaning to his work — you will see wonders!
Type 7. The ‘Personal Vs Professional’ blurring types: I was once passed over for a promotion because I refused to entertain them regularly for dinner and not devote myself to their personal errands! Anything that you speak or bring up in a conversation outside office is also referred to!
Learning: Personal and Professional should not interfere with each other — this requires a level of EQ to distinguish and behave accordingly. Just find a better boss!
So, need to win despite bad bosses? Treat them as you would a spoilt, immature kid — Communicate clearly and firmly, Be the expert and Exercise EQ. That’s all it takes!
Success may be delayed, but not denied!
