Dive Brief:
- Three out of four employees say their boss is the worst and most stressful part of their job, and various studies report that bad bosses can, in fact, make employees want to quit, according to Human Resources Online.
- But the problem isn’t that management doesn't know about bad bosses. Most managers would have had, at one point, "miserable, soul-sucking bosses who made them want to tear their hair out," writer Akankasha Dewan reports.
- Rather, the problem is that it is so easy to slip into the bad habits of being a bad manager, even if you know it's wrong, she writes.
Dive Insight:
Dewan offers three prime examples that comprise what it means to be a "bad boss." One is being a micro-manager/perfectionist. She writes that by directing rather than empowering employees, a boss negatively impacts creativity, trust, communication and the team’s ability to reach its goals. She advises managers to let people do it themselves.
Another common "bad boss" trait is being indifferent. She says managers need to interact with their team as human beings – their weaknesses, strengths and what makes them unique. Saying “I don’t care what you feel – just get the job done” is a sure way to manage an employee out the door, and lose the respect of your team.
Finally, there is the bully, she writes -- those prone to attack, insult and sometimes steal ideas from others. Any productivity out of a bully comes at an expense to others. To avoid this, it might help to remember that respect isn’t always commanded, but earned. Taking less advantage of seniority, and instead working with subordinates as peers might help you to achieve targets more easily.
