What Makes a Bad Boss - Bad?

This is a hell of a good read

Reader Comments About Bad Bosses

Nothing sparks more commentary than asking about what makes a manager a bad boss. With my Web site poll and its lengthy comments thread, I found some common themes in site visitor responses.

Want to avoid becoming a bad boss? Afraid that you may already be considered a bad boss? Just want to commiserate with other people who have bad bosses? Here are your thoughts about what makes a bad boss, well - bad?

Consensus doesn't exist, but several themes occurred most frequently in the comments the site received from readers. Bad bosses, in order of their frequency in the comments thread, do the following.

• Love brownnosers, tattletales, and relatives who report to them. They choose favorite employees and cover up and make excuses for the poor work of their incompetent favorites. They ignore selected people and discriminate against many employees.
• Fail to communicate, and may not even have, expectations, timelines or goals. Bad bosses change their minds frequently leaving employees off-balance. Bad bosses change expectations and deadlines frequently.
• Use disciplinary measures inappropriately when simple, positive communication would correct the problem. Bad bosses ignore employees until there is a problem, then pounce.
• Speak loudly, rudely, one-sidedly to staff. Bad bosses don't provide the air time for staff to respond to accusations and comments. They intimidate people and bully staff. They allow other employees to bully employees.
• Take credit for the successes and positive accomplishments of employees. They are equally as quick to blame employees when something goes wrong.
• Fail to provide rewards or recognition for positive employee performance.

These six were the top "bad boss" characteristics cited by readers. The following came up less frequently but were contributed by more than one reader. The bad boss:

• Is not qualified for the boss job by either skills or experience.
• Will not let go of problems or mistakes. The bad boss returns to discuss negative events continually and searches for faults in employees.
• Will not accept constructive feedback and suggestions for improvement. The bad boss can't deal with disagreement from employees who have their own opinions about work related issues.
• Lacks integrity, breaks promises, and is dishonest.
• Does not have the courage to deal with a difficult situation despite knowing that it is the right thing to do.
• Causes dissention among staff members by his or her actions and comments.

Reader comments also made the point that a lot of bad boss behavior is enabled, or at least allowed, by the boss's bad boss.

These comments provide a snapshot about what employees believe makes a bad boss. Listen and learn or listen and commisserate. For the full flavor of the comments - I can't capture them in a summary - please visit the original "comments" thread about bad bosses.