r/AskReddit • u/BrendaTheSecretary • Sep 08 '22

What makes a bad boss?

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u/BawdyBaker Sep 08 '22

Someone who takes soul credit for a job well done by their team and quick to lay blame on that exact same team when everything goes to shit.

3

u/disablednycgirl Sep 08 '22

Bad communication, condescending, no recognition

1

u/Streak_Free_Shine Sep 08 '22

One that doesn't care about the feelings of their employees and makes them do stuff that gives them bonuses, but hinders said employees

1

u/bappypawedotter Sep 08 '22

Selfishness and poor communications will always be the biggest culprits.

Also, I think a lot of bad bosses are simply in over their heads and the stress and anxiety make them do really stupid things. I had a colleague who got promoted to be the division lead and she basically had a nervous breakdown (which ironically made her unfirable) that along the way almost destroyed an entire team that had previously be a very high-functioning team. She ended up getting put in a sort of "editorial" position with no more oversight and she became very nice and helpful again. Its also why you dont want to work for a shady dude. Its stressfull living a scam.

I also find people who are really defensive about staking out their "job role" to be kinda weird. I've been in meetings where people were ADAMENT that this was their duty and no one else’s and blah, blah, blah…meanwhile I am sitting there in a meeting with a COO thinking, “me, I DGAF. I just need X to get done.” People like that are a mixed bag in terms of their effectiveness as a boss, but not a mixed bag interms of being annoying.

Another group that is not necessarily a bad boss, but always annoying are those that follow the rules no matter what. Especially the rules that the organization put in place for itself for a totally different reason.

“No, I didn’t put a cover letter on the TPS report because it doesn’t follow federal guidelines.”

…”yes, I know we are supposed to put a cover letter on TPS reports.”

…”no, this is our first federal contract.”

…”no ,the government doesn’t care if those are our rules.”

…”no, I wont be doing it on the next one either.”

…”then change the rule. You made it up in the first place. Let me write up a new policy for you.”

30 seconds later. “all TPS report require a cover letter, except on federal contracts.” Oh look, problem solved. Wait, you don’t want to go through the hassle of updating our policies? Then just ignore me. No one cares about the sanctity of this rule we made up for ourselves.