We have all (or almost all) had horrible bosses, like something out of horror movies. In our lives as employees it is very easy to come across one of these beings who take away our desire to work and make us tremble every time the phone rings.
Now that you are the boss, it is important that you are aware of this and avoid making these mistakes that will lead you to lose the trust and respect of your team.
Here are the 10 horrible bosses that exist and what to do to avoid becoming one
1. The perfectionist
For this type of boss, only he is right and everyone else does things wrong. From the beginning he expects you to be wrong and he just waits for the moment to point it out. He thinks things can only be done one way (his way) and he corrects everything you deliver. He does not have confidence in his team and his mentality is “if I don’t do it, things won’t work out.”
How to avoid being one of them: Trust your team. Accept that nothing in life is perfect and that it doesn’t have to be. Try to be open to new ideas and new ways of doing things. If you let your collaborators work in their own way, you could surprise yourself and obtain great results.
2. The “friend”
These horrible bosses are so concerned with creating friendship with their subordinates that they put work and seriousness aside. They have zero authority and want to feel “like one more” within the team. He often makes jokes and jokes with his collaborators and goes out for drinks with them every week. It is so important for him to fit in and be liked by his collaborators that he is willing to sacrifice productivity and leadership.
How to avoid being one of them: He understands that you are not his friend. It’s okay to have good relationships with the people who work with you, but you must learn not to cross the line. Don’t let them lose respect for you; Earn their admiration and trust with your attitude and actions, not by partying with them every weekend.
3. The Cantinflas
This type of boss stands out for talking a lot and saying nothing. His words are full of straw and he constantly calls meetings just to talk and talk without having any objective. When he gives feedback or explains a task to be performed he says ambiguous things and does not provide clarity or understanding. He likes to give speeches without any point and have empty conversations.
How to avoid being one of them: Define what you want to say. Before attending a meeting or giving a presentation make sure you know what the goal is and how to achieve it. Remember that for your team to do their work well, you must be clear and prevent them from wasting valuable time.
4. The tyrant
This boss loves to provoke fear. For him, his employees are a kind of servants who must please him and follow his instructions to the letter. He is happy causing fear and making people feel less. Sometimes he even humiliates the person, because it is common for him to yell and scold someone in front of others.
How to avoid being one of them: Understand that fear does not equal respect. By generating fear in your people you will achieve nothing; They will never approach you and you will always have a false view of your business. You must leave your ego (or your insecurity) behind, and consider your employees for what they are: human beings with dreams, aspirations and ideas.
5. The exploiter
Generally this type of boss is a workaholic and wants everyone to be one. He has no personal life and thinks that, therefore, neither do others. He is the typical one who calls you on weekends and asks you to stay at the office late. He is fascinated by stress and is not concerned about the health or balance between personal and professional life of his collaborators. He asks for more than he needs and in his mind work is the only thing that exists.
How to avoid being one of them: Have a personal life. Start with yourself: it is likely that in recent years you have had to leave your family and friends to run the business, but it is time to find a balance. Take care of your health and your relationships and be aware that your team needs to take care of them too.
6. The bipolar
He laughs, cries, screams, gets excited, throws his pen, hits the desk… these horrible bosses are awesome. For them, emotional intelligence does not exist. They show all their feelings red hot because they believe it is “necessary” to share them with others. It is common to hear him scream when someone makes a mistake or even cry when things go wrong. They are like little children who love to throw a tantrum.
How to avoid being one of them: Increase your emotional intelligence. Before reacting, calm down and think about how to act. Don’t let your emotions dominate you; Learn to think with a cool head and not make decisions on the spur of the moment.
7. The blackmailer
He’s the boss who says what people want to hear but don’t really believe it. He wants to please everyone but in reality he keeps making promises and commitments that he cannot keep. He also likes to make trouble; He doesn’t care that people within his team confront each other, as long as he washes his hands and looks good to both parties.
How to avoid being one of them: Be honest. Don’t give false hope or promise things you can’t keep. Remember that your word is a valuable weapon and that you should not waste it senselessly. Only by keeping your promises do you become a trusted and respected leader.
8. The lazy one
It is one very different thing to be a micromanager and another very different thing to be completely absent from what happens in your company. This type of boss is one who “trusts” too much; That is, he never does anything and waits for his team to solve everything. Every day he arrives late and he spends his time talking on the phone. When you ask him about a topic he almost never knows how to answer it. He is irresponsible and cares little about things. He doesn’t like to work and he spends his time distracted or yawning in front of the computer.
How not to be one of them: Follow your passion. If you are not doing your ideal job (even more so if you are an entrepreneur), it is time to abandon ship. Remember that you are the example to follow, so be the first to arrive at the office and spread optimism with your team.
9. The stalker
He is one of the worst types of boss. Many times he takes advantage of his role as “authority” to flirt with his subordinates. He likes to intimidate others and feels that he has the right to do whatever he wants.
How not to be one of them: Respect the people who work with you.
10. The insecure
This type of boss can present itself in two ways: being highly arrogant or overly shy. In both cases, the problem is insecurity. The first expresses it by being rude and insulting others. Putting people down makes you feel better. And the second is always seeking the approval of others. He is unable to make decisions for himself and doubts all of his actions.
How not to be one of them: Have confidence in yourself. Be aware of your abilities, but also your flaws and work on them.
And you, have you had horrible bosses?