How to identify and deal with a bad boss, then avoid them in the future
Sometimes the worst boss is in the mirror
Ask someone about their boss and you can get some interesting responses. Leading a team isn’t easy. Of course, we all love to complain.
A few years ago, I had a terrible boss. He would make me work nights, weekends, all the time really.
Then I finally had enough. I quit. Kind of…
This terrible boss I had was … me!
I tried to start a business. I thought I should do everything. I never thought no I shouldn’t do that.
Identify
There can be many signs of a bad boss. Here are a few of the most common.
Protect the Team
In Scrum, they talk about how the Scrum Master protects the team. A good boss does the same. They strategically say No to requests.
For instance, when the team is already working hard, they say No to a new request.
One particular boss I had would never say No. The turnover on the team was very high as a result.
Communication
Communication that is clear is the hallmark of a good leader. On the other hand, a bad boss leaves you guessing.
They share little or confusing information. Feedback is none existent. You are left in the lurch not knowing what to do.
Micromanagement
I learned the perils of micromanagement at an early age. In high school, I had a job with a micromanager. He would tell you what to do.
A few minutes later after you did something he would come back. He would proceed to redo everything. There was no feedback on how to improve my work.
This went on for the whole summer. We had two people doing the work of one person. Needless to say, I didn’t want to work for him anymore.
Deal
Now that you know you have one. Let’s start to deal with them in a healthy manner.
Boundaries
This one is hard for me. I can try to be a people pleaser. Take a step back and create some boundaries. This is easy.
Next, we need to begin to enforce them. The hard part. First, communicate them to your boss and team.
For instance, you may start by creating some normal working hours. Share this with everyone you work with.
Prepare for how you will handle these being challenged. It will come up so be ready. Remember you have more control than you think.
Motivation
A good friend of mine worked for a startup. The founder began to act erratically. It was immediately following a buyout.
She asked questions of him and others. That’s when she understood his objective. He was focused on maximizing his earnout.
This helped her recognize his path. It helped her work with him. Although she disagreed it was important to acknowledge it.
Work Focused
In situations such as these, we need to focus on what Stephen Covey calls our Circle of Control. I can change my actions. I can influence my leader. I can’t control them.
When we are no longer able to change a situation — we are challenged to change ourselves. -Viktor Frankl
Focus on your work. What are your main objectives? Keep your eye on them. Communicate your work throughout the team. This helps others see the value you provide.
Avoid
Have you ever fallen prey to a late-night advertisement? You order it and open it once it arrives. Only to realize it doesn't work.
Sara Stibitz shares these three tips for interviewing to spot a bad boss.
Know what you are looking for
You know yourself better than anyone else. Define what type of leader and environment works for you.
Trust your instincts
Sometimes you get that feeling something isn’t right. Listen to your instincts. They tend to be right.
Ask questions
Look for ways to clarify expectations. There could be some potential red flags. Listen intently.
Do your homework
Research the company. Check them out on Glassdoor. Search LinkedIn to see if you have connections there.
Meet your colleagues
Try to meet your potential colleagues in a non-work setting. A friend of mine was able to do this. They met for lunch.
He began to get a funny feeling. He realized the place was a sweatshop. People were expected to work nights and weekends.
To sum this up, we need to understand the characteristics of a bad boss. If you have one then create boundaries to deal with them. Finally, in a job search look for the warning signs.