Ever had a bad boss?
Ever had a bad boss? Ever been a bad boss? Was listening to a Freakonomics Podcast, about why there are so many bad bosses, and wanted to share some thoughts.
You’ve probably had a bad boss, maybe you’ve been a bad boss. I have done both. Three reasons we see so many bad bosses:
1) Advancing is Managing – The obvious way to advance your career is to start managing people. Talented, ambitious people want to progress. They decide to become a manager, though they’re not invested in leading.
2) False Proxies – We hire first time managers, based on performance as individual contributors, how they get along, and answers to interview questions. None of that has much to do with how they will lead.
3) Training and Preparation – In many organizations managerial training is learning how to use systems, procedures, and tools. If you’ve experienced a boss blindly implementing a rule, that’s probably why.
So how to avoid becoming, or creating bad bosses? Let’s tackle each of the three reasons.
1) Other Paths to Advance – As shared in the podcast, some organizations have ways for individual contributors to be promoted and recognized without becoming managers. Job title, compensation and respect are all parts of this. If you’re considering becoming a manager, think through whether that’s what you want. If not, consider other avenues for advancement.
2) Improve the Hiring Process – If you’re hiring leaders, include scenarios and role plays in the hiring process. For internal candidates, prepare them before they apply for leadership position with training and opportunities to lead.
If you’re considering applying for leadership roles in the next 6-12 months, seek opportunities to lead in small, noticeable ways. Ask if you can take on leadership of a project, and seek development to help you succeed. If you’ve already led, there is proof you can do it.
3) Training and Preparation – If you’re serious about succeeding in leadership, you must develop your emotional intelligence. Having authority and vision is not enough. Ability to understand and influence people will determine your success. Seek support to be successful. Ask for professional development beyond processes and systems. Read good books. If you want to talk about how coaching can help you, let me know.
The podcast references the movie Horrible Bosses, where the bosses are comedically horrible people. In reality, bad bosses are usually good people. They were successful in their previous roles, and got along with coworkers. Being a good person, working hard, and caring about people is a start, but isn’t enough to be successful as a leader.
Ever had a good boss?
Everyone deserves to work for a leader equipped with the skills and resources to lead.
