Ten Warning Signs of a Crummy Boss

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  1

  Tokusean

  02/19/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Ten Warning Signs of a Crummy Boss

  You use too many ********.
  Not only email etiquette is a window to a soul.
  
  G.F.Kirchhoff

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  2

  grahamd944

  02/19/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Ten Warning Signs of a Crummy Boss

  I had a nightmare boss- head of our national division in a professional services firm. He was totally egocentric, living off the work of others and feeding them pithy scraps. His view was that marketing etc had to consider the "best interests of the firm" and that it was in the best interests of the firm that all clients nationally identified with ONE person to contact on any and every issue - it was a way of making customer service easy. So it did not matter that I (or anyone else) wrote a major report; or that someone else was the key speaker at a forthcoming presentation - it was HIS NAME that sent the email notification, his NAME as the point of contact; HIS NAME for any follow up for written queries etc ... HIS, HIS, HIS - it was pathetic and totally disfunctional he was a madman and if you crossed him (eg. sent a promotional email for something you were doing, but did so in your own name) his anger, sarcasm and petty acts of revenge knew no bounds.
  
  We could not hold team members, staff were sometimes in tears over his conduct, we had bullying complaints - but he was a "rainmaker" (if all the marketing is in your name and by direction every new instruction or client contact is through him - how could you not be a rainmaker?!!) - so the National Manager of the firm stood by him.
  
  I lasted 5+ years before succumbing to a major depressive disorder, suing the firm as it tried to sack me while on sick leave, then settled and resigned. NEVER AGAIN !!!

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  3

  vi.brown@...

  02/19/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Ten Warning Signs of a Crummy Boss

  Good questions, however, I am not sure that I could answer all 10 in one interview with a potential boss. What is the best way to get these answers if you don't aleady work in the firm.
  
  V. Brown

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  4

  Summerdog

  02/19/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Ten Warning Signs of a Crummy Boss

  Lighten up dude..... if an a**hole is an a**hole then call it the way you see it.

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  5

  BUMACORP

  02/19/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Ten Warning Signs of a Crummy Boss

  As a prospective employee, how does anyone go about gathering information about all these questions, without appearing to be too inquisitive?

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  6

  Sunilhere

  02/19/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Ten Warning Signs of a Crummy Boss

  I agree with G.F.Kirchhoff . You use too many ******. That can be avoided.
  
  I see many articles on how to rate your boss. Do you have suggestion on what should be the 'BOSS' expectations from the team.
  
  Those who are juniors today will become boss tomorrow. See that all you wanted in your boss you practice it now with your team.

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  7

  Sunilhere

  02/19/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Ten Warning Signs of a Crummy Boss

  I agree with G.F.Kirchhoff . You use too many ******. That can be avoided.
  
  I see many articles on how to rate your boss. Do you have suggestion on what should be the 'BOSS' expectations from the team.
  
  Those who are juniors today will become boss tomorrow. See that all you wanted in your boss you practice it now with your team.

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  8

  SRB_Wisconsin

  02/19/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Ten Warning Signs of a Crummy Boss

  Here are three tips. 1. Watch the nonverbals during interviews. Closed body language, and intonation that seems snobbish are good clues. 2. Listen to the message behind the words. In an interview, if the hiring boss emphasizes some sort of buddy-buddy relationship with the higher administrators, be wary. It could mean a boss who needs to feel special, superior and safe. This means high maintenance for you. It also can mean that your boss will demean your work--in order to feel superior and safe--and eventually will dismiss you for being inept. And remember, corporate America always sides with the highest-ranking boss, no matter how rank they are. 3. Pontification in an interview is a clue. Some insecure talkers tend to repeat their one or two big success stories or talk down about other employees in an interview. If they're not using the interview to find out what you can do for them, and if they're using your ears to absorb all their talk about themselves, think two and three times about working for someone who's not interested in your success.

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  Tymm China

  02/19/09 | Report as spam

  How to assess "Ten Warning Signs of a Crummy Boss"

  How to assess a future boss? I can think of 3 approaches.
  
  First, if you are an outsider and are being introduced to the new boss through a search firm, they can help you with assessing future bosses. Because it's in their best interest to get you to accept the job offer, it's your job to scrutinize the feedback/evidence provided by the firm.
  
  The second and the best approach is to do reference checking through network. This approach is the best because you can get multiple perspectives, sort of like a 360 degree assessment.
  
  If the above two fail, you have the interview left. Ask direct, situational questions of your future boss to get at the behaviors. Of course you may be concerned about how he/she feels about your asking the detailed, tough questions. But remember one thing: the interview should be a two-way selection and you do need to set the scene before asking the questions to remove defensiveness or resistence.
  
  If you think about the stake of your career decision, you have nothing to lose.

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  thompsonchima

  02/20/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Ten Warning Signs of a Crummy Boss

  Hello Everyone, comment posted by Yiwang prompted me to ask this question. During the interview, what kind of the question would a propspective boss ask? I ask so to find out why the propsective employers deep you in questions at one time and then ask you to question them at last part of interviews.As Yiwang commented that interviews is a two way process and as such i see need to structure the interview question which aims at the propsective employee to answer and ask before the topic at that time closes, other than waiting at the last moment.
  
  Tom
  20/02/09

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  bucci

  02/20/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Ten Warning Signs of a Crummy Boss

  Is "a#$hole" now an acceptable word in professional
  circles? Some of your ideas provide useful advice;
  however by resorting to vulgar language you detract a lot
  from you credibility. Manners go a long way honey!

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  12

  engineeral

  02/20/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Ten Warning Signs of a Crummy Boss

  This advice is generally not helpful without a method(s) to get the answers. If I know someone who works for the prospective boss I would already be asking, but otherwise I can't think of how to get these answers. Even during the interview - perhaps the second interview I suppose.

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  jenyj89

  02/20/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Ten Warning Signs of a Crummy Boss

  OMG, I just got out from under one of the WORST bosses in the world...a manager from hell. He got out of the AF as a Capt and went in the AF reserves to retire as a career Capt (obviously a "fast burner"). This should be someone's first clue that he's no Einstein!
  
  The next clue is that his job history had a long list of "lateral" job moves, meaning he moved from job to job without moving up. Things that make you go...hmmmm!
  
  So he comes in, knowing nothing about my office, learns nothing about what we do, nothing about anybody, kisses alot of upper management ass, screws our office through his ignorance and incompetance and takes out his and upper management's personal beefs on individuals in my office, including myself. I finally ended up filing a EEO case and settling by getting relocated out of the office but keeping my same job. Everyone over there that works for him is either looking for another job or praying he gets another job.

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  chaseair

  02/20/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Ten Warning Signs of a Crummy Boss

  The profanity is unneccessary. This has always been a professional forum, not the junior high locker room. Vulgar words come from corrupt minds.

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  Fleabell

  02/20/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Ten Warning Signs of a Crummy Boss

  The only way I have seen of getting a semi-accurate "read" of what one's boss will be like is to pay close attention to their speaking style during the interview. The worst bosses I've had spoke about themselves at length during my interview, telling me their whole life story or the greatness of their own accomplishments. They turn out to be the kind of people who reward their friends at work with do-nothing assignments while giving you no credit for your hard work.

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  bobo mommy

  02/20/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Ten Warning Signs of a Crummy Boss

  I would like to see a follow up article as to how you get this information from an interview without appearing to have an agenda.

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  17

  richardj@...

  02/20/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Ten Warning Signs of a Crummy Boss

  Sigh.
  
  Most of the people complaining about the use of the word "a**hole" haven't heard of Sutton, his HBR article on the same subject or his book.
  
  He explains the reason for his usage in that book.
  
  
  

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  marylorenz

  02/20/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Ten Warning Signs of a Crummy Boss

  It's hard to read from just the interview process whether or not someone has a short fuse, doesn't take to criticism well, or some of these other evaluations.
  
  I would add to this list that, if you get a chance to interview prospective team members, ask them how they like working with their boss and about the bosses management style. Pay close attention to body language, whether they make eye contact and their choice of words. That will tell you what you need to know.

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  mliebman@...

  02/20/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Ten Warning Signs of a Crummy Boss

  The interview process is very simple. Outline the questions asked by the boss as these are critical issues to him/her. In return, ask the same questions of your future boss.
  BTW: If the prospective boss uses vulgar language then walk, it speaks volumes of his/her values and maturity.
  

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  treeskusumawardani

  02/23/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Ten Warning Signs of a Crummy Boss

  I don't like the way you are using the words. Too rude. You can use more profesional words.

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  dbutchko

  03/02/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Ten Warning Signs of a Crummy Boss

  There is virtually always someone else that you talk to, an administrative assistant, a security guard, a janitor. I always try to ask these people what they think of working here. They usually don't have a vested interest in trying to sway you and will be honest - the "lower" the level, the more honesty you'll get. This is a great snapshot of the organization, and thereby the types of behavior they will accept/reward.

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  SPHRsmart

  03/11/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Ten Warning Signs of a Crummy Boss

  Where was this list when I needed it! This is spot on!

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  peacrack

  03/22/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Ten Warning Signs of a Crummy Boss

  Every boss is a great boss until the second they realize how smart you are! I have been hired as a SME and brought in specifically to do what the current team didn't have the background to do. THEY NEVER LET YOU DO IT. Smart people scare people, and they will complain to the boss who does he/she think they are! The boss will try to minimize the intellect of the "new comer." And then the torture begins! If everyone followed the No ******* Rule the world would be a better place.

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  dsd bfd

  04/01/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Ten Warning Signs of a Crummy Boss

  In an interview, I asked the company owner how he dealt with criticism. His nervous laughter was a big clue.
  
  Later he said, "Building software, running a network, etc... that is easy - building a company - that's hard." Basically I don't respect anyone that is working for me.
  
  But if you go to an interview needing the job these insights won't matter...

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  25

  murphiski

  04/20/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Ten Warning Signs of a Crummy Boss

  It is always hard to go to work wondering if you're entering a peaceful area or a war zone. I think I'd prefer a boss who was always hard to please rather than one who drips compassion one minute and demeans you in front of others the next. Then the the pathological liar part of their character who is overly concerned about others talking about them while they continue to malign others in a defamatory way within the workplace. They insist that we must look united so everyone gives the appearance of a happy and friendly team. Even when they are on leave they are continuing to tell you how to play the game and then tell you to make the decisions. You've always been only too happy to make the decisions and your decisions have proven the right course of action, but when making a point or decision, the boss changes things to suit themself, making you appear a fool or incapable of deciding issues. They aren't going to change. I think we just have to accept their histrionic and arrogant behaviour and rise above it. I take so much and then I challenge and while I might be in serious disfavour that's just something extra I have to wear.

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  Coach James

  05/14/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Ten Warning Signs of a Crummy Boss

  These are some good and useful points and I am glad I read them. Get rid of the crude language and you would look more like a professional and not someone trying to look "hip".

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  Karina Rizzo

  05/18/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Ten Warning Signs of a Crummy Boss

  The point made about the boss and upper management being excessively buddy buddy is very true. This will potentially create a big problem in the future if you ever have any disagreements with your boss and need to go up the chain of command. I've experienced this firsthand and it's simply impossible to have an objective hearing on anything you put forth about the golden child boss.
  
  On the subject of profanity, it's true that it can come off as being unprofessional, especially if you're dealing with clients. However, some of the best bosses I've had have used it on occasions to stress a point or simply because the situation may have been overwhelming for everyone involved. It was never directed towards anyone and it allows you to see that there is a real person underneath the guarded exterior. Perhaps it seems ridiculous, but depending on how and when it's used, it can help you connect. In a world of politically correct overindulgence, an occasional "a@@####" can bring about a warm fuzzy feeling in any office.

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  BillBurden

  05/20/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Ten Warning Signs of a Crummy Boss

  Grow up Tokusean... an ******* is an *******. There is no sense in sugar-coating the truth. And I challenge anyone to provide evidence to support that use of profanity has any relation to a boss's crumminess.

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  catseye68

  05/25/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Ten Warning Signs of a Crummy Boss

  I have the 11th sign of a "Crummy Boss". Mine was reverse discrimination in that she was African American and I am Caucasian. One of our team was African American and for some reason didn't like me. I tried so hard to be friendly with her and helped her out with her work (She was disorganized). This didn't help as anytime my co-worker had a bad day, I had one too. EX: On a Friday morning she came in my office which there were 2 others sitting in there with me and started yelling that "Why was I yelling at her she knew I needed the files and that she would give them to me when she was done with them." I was concerned about her because she has never done this before and I asked the others sitting in my area if they know what was going on with her. No answer. So I emailed my boss that I was concerned about ......and what happened. My boss emailed me back and said she would speak to her about it. Later on, about 30 minutes later she emailed me requesting I come to her office. When I did both the women were sitting there and I didn't have a chance. The co-worker lied and come up with some outrageous story and said "How many times have we told you about your attitude?" She was talking about herself and my boss. I had a feeling that they were friends and now I was aware of it. From that time on my boss came in my office every month to tell me that someone was complaining about me etc. When I asked who, she said she couldn't tell me. (I was staying away from the other co-worker all this time). I found that I got along well with everyone else, so I ended up in an unusual position. When I whet to her boss, Director of the Company, she told me the new employee, African American also, was her boss now and to tell her. Obviously, I didn't but I did get laid off shortly after that. What do you do about this situation? Especially knowing I worked all kinds of nationalities and I didn't have a problem at all. Has anyone else had this experience?