Comedian Jeff Foxworthy created a cottage industry when he started saying, "You know you're a redneck when..."This post talks about a similar awareness: "You Know You're A Bad Boss When..."
And awareness is the key component. Employees will always tell you what they think you want to hear. If you aren't completely aware of what's going on in your workplace, then you're failing as a manager.
The other key component in awareness is to be completely honest with yourself when assessing your strengths and weaknesses. It takes a courageous manager to ask employees what is good and bad about his or her management style. (A 180-degree survey is also helpful, and most managers are rightfully scared to death of them).
Steve Wyrostek, the Chicago Small Business Strategies Examiner (www.examiner.com), wrote a recent article that inspired my post. Among his excellent thoughts:
You just might be a poor boss if ….
- You claim an open door policy and wonder why no one comes through that door.
- Your employee has to ask you why her check increased instead of you telling her prior to payday that you gave her a raise.
- You feel sorry for the Dabney Coleman character in the movie “9 to 5”
- The turnover percentage in your area is the same as the winning percentage of the White Sox.
- Your leadership role models are Machiavelli, General Patton and Atilla the Hun.
- You find a copy of A Survival Guide for Working With Bad Bosses: Dealing With Bullies, Idiots, Back-stabbers, And Other Managers from Hell by Gini Graham Scotton an employee’s desk.
- You have a budget of 30k to spend on employee bonuses and never use it.
- You think it’s good management to come in under the paltry 3.5% budget available for salary increases.
- You think that losing your temper is an indication of management strength.
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