How to Recognize a Bad Boss?
20 August 2014
Read by 3758 persons
When all goes well, a bad boss can still hide their mistakes, but in these difficult economic times, bad leadership means trouble.
At first glance, these are obvious shortcomings that any manager would gladly remedy, but bad bosses are barely aware of their poor performance. Worse still, the very worst even give themselves good marks.
Jack Zenger and Joseph Folkman, managers at Zenger/Folkman, a consulting firm, have exposed the weaknesses of leaders. Their findings were published in the Harvard Business Review. For their investigation, they combined two studies. They surveyed 11,000 leaders and looked for commonalities among the 10% of bad managers. In the second study, they surveyed over 450 leaders and defined the personality traits of 31 leaders who were fired in 3 years.
The 10 Biggest Failings of Bad Bosses
This is how the investigators found the 10 biggest failings of managers. Every bad manager has at least one of these personality traits; often, they have several at the same time.
1. Lack of Energy and Enthusiasm
They see new initiatives as a burden and are afraid of being overtaken. Or, more elegantly put in English: ‘they suck all the energy out of any room.’
2. No Clear Vision
They believe their mission is limited to executing tasks; they lack a clear vision or direction.
3. They Make Poor Judgments
Their decisions raise eyebrows. Their colleagues or subordinates question whether the decisions made are the best for the company.
4. They Are Content with Average Performance
They consider objectives to be overly difficult to achieve. And when they do achieve them, they pass their performance off as an exceptional achievement. Their motto: don’t over-promise and deliver more.
5. They Don’t Work Well in a Team
They act alone, avoid their colleagues, and see other bosses as competitors.
6. They Don’t Stick to the Rules Set by Others
Workers accuse them of lacking integrity. They don’t respect the standards and expectations they impose on others.
7. They Hate New Ideas
They reject suggestions from their colleagues, bosses, and subordinates. Result: good ideas are not implemented. No wonder this costs the company.
8. They Learn Nothing from Their Mistakes
Failures are not seen as opportunities to improve. On the contrary, bad bosses hide their mistakes.
9. They Are Not Skilled in Social Relationships
No comment.
10. They Are Unable to Manage Others
They are focused on themselves and therefore not interested in the development of others. With all the consequences that entails.
Jobat.be
Posted on August 20, 2014.
At first glance, these are obvious shortcomings that any manager would gladly remedy, but bad bosses are barely aware of their poor performance. Worse still, the very worst even give themselves good marks.
Jack Zenger and Joseph Folkman, managers at Zenger/Folkman, a consulting firm, have exposed the weaknesses of leaders. Their findings were published in the Harvard Business Review. For their investigation, they combined two studies. They surveyed 11,000 leaders and looked for commonalities among the 10% of bad managers. In the second study, they surveyed over 450 leaders and defined the personality traits of 31 leaders who were fired in 3 years.
The 10 Biggest Failings of Bad Bosses
This is how the investigators found the 10 biggest failings of managers. Every bad manager has at least one of these personality traits; often, they have several at the same time.
1. Lack of Energy and Enthusiasm
They see new initiatives as a burden and are afraid of being overtaken. Or, more elegantly put in English: ‘they suck all the energy out of any room.’
2. No Clear Vision
They believe their mission is limited to executing tasks; they lack a clear vision or direction.
3. They Make Poor Judgments
Their decisions raise eyebrows. Their colleagues or subordinates question whether the decisions made are the best for the company.
4. They Are Content with Average Performance
They consider objectives to be overly difficult to achieve. And when they do achieve them, they pass their performance off as an exceptional achievement. Their motto: don’t over-promise and deliver more.
5. They Don’t Work Well in a Team
They act alone, avoid their colleagues, and see other bosses as competitors.
6. They Don’t Stick to the Rules Set by Others
Workers accuse them of lacking integrity. They don’t respect the standards and expectations they impose on others.
7. They Hate New Ideas
They reject suggestions from their colleagues, bosses, and subordinates. Result: good ideas are not implemented. No wonder this costs the company.
8. They Learn Nothing from Their Mistakes
Failures are not seen as opportunities to improve. On the contrary, bad bosses hide their mistakes.
9. They Are Not Skilled in Social Relationships
No comment.
10. They Are Unable to Manage Others
They are focused on themselves and therefore not interested in the development of others. With all the consequences that entails.
Jobat.be
Posted on August 20, 2014.
