Horrible bosses really do exist. In fact, many of us have had at least one of them since we entered the professional sphere. These kinds of bosses are ones who worked hard to get where they are, and who are good at their job but just don’t have the right management skills. After all, not every person who deserves a promotion necessarily comes equipped with leadership know-how. A job does not always come with a good captain and likely at one point or another in your career you will come across a bad boss.
Here are some important lessons you can learn from not so great bosses:
Sharing information is essential for a team. A boss who doesn’t fill everyone on the team in on all aspects of a project leaves everyone susceptible to major error. It makes the boss look like a superhero while everyone else looks weak, which is really not good for team morale. A great boss is honest and forthcoming at status meetings and gives people all the details to do their job well. If you’re afraid your boss isn’t communicating effectively, don’t be afraid to seek clarification
You are not the only great person on your team. Talented executives surround themselves with people smarter than them. Bad bosses try to handle everything on their own, separate from their team, and then never take the blame. Good bosses know how to bring problems to the table and work to find a solution. Use your colleagues to your advantage; know that you have a wealth of knowledge right at your disposal and don’t be afraid to seek guidance or feedback on projects from your team members.
Quantity does not equal quality. More time spent in the office does not mean you are doing better or even more work. It’s better to be concise, accurate and exact. If your boss does need you to put in additional hours in service of a real project never complain. But you shouldn’t be staying at the office late just to stay at the office late.
