How to spot a bad boss

ANALYSIS

My present manager is a true gentleman in every sense of the word and even buys me breakfast on occasion.

However, in my travels through the wilds of the information technology field, I have come across many different species of IT manager. All are from the genus 'Procurator' and are very dangerous in captivity. Some are now on the World Wildlife Federation's At Risk Register. However, there will certainly be no captive breeding program to preserve them as most would be overjoyed if they disappeared from the Earth.

To help classify these dangerous breeds, I've created the following list of species and character descriptions of some common types of managers. These types are loosely based on some managers I have worked for over the years. As ever, this classification should be taken with a large pinch of salt.

Species one: Procurator Martyrus

Also known as: The "Anything for the good of the company" Manager

This species has a distinctive cry that sounds like this:

"Look at me! I worked Christmas day and even when I had cholera. I walked to the office for six weeks after my car crash, even though both my legs were broken. Why can't you stay another hour each night without pay? I would."

Yes, the office martyr has finally made it to the top, probably because it's the only place where he can't do any harm.

There is a tradition in the British Civil Service of promoting those workers whose incompetence seriously affects the performance of a department. Many such appointees are members of the P. Martyrus group.

P. Martyrus is closely related to the next species, Procurator IlligitimusMaximus.

Species two: Procurator Illigitimus Maximus

Also known as: The Mean and Nasty Manager

This manager is of the old school, a right scoundrel. His idea of being a good manager is to be unapproachable or, in his words, "hard but fair". He is neither. He got his present position by hanging on to the coattails of his manager until retirement, or a nasty accident left the position open. Thankfully this is now a severely endangered species.

After sacking a member of the team, he might be heard to say: "I had to let him go; he wasn't showing the right level of commitment. He preferred to go to his mother's funeral rather than come to work. What do they think we're running here? A holiday camp?"

He will turn to the shocked and silenced office and shout: "Anyone else here got any doubts about their loyalty?"

The problem with Illigitimus Maximus is that one day he will make a mistake himself. When he looks to the team to help him out of his difficulty, they will remember past actions and develop a selective deafness to his pleas. His is a lonely path, and for him there is no safe haven.

Talkback

This article was great but I need help with a trainer that comes into our store. This trainer like to cause drama and really gets excited when she is able to stir things up. No one can stand this person but the person is extremely knowledgeable about all procedures. She has a real problem with liking me and treats me extremely rude. I have to put up with her for two more days. I tried ignoring her and I was told that I had a bad attitude for not talking to her. How would you handle this trainer from helll.....?????
Help,
Carol Clifton

1 November, 2004 07:00 Reply

This article was OK, but I didn't see an example of the boss that I work for. My boss is a textbook case of a person with a severe personality disorder and I do mean textbook. He feels that he is perfectly alright and does not accept advice from anyone. Everyone who has had any contact with him comes from the encounter saying, 'he is full crazy, what's wrong with HIm?' I and many others would appreciate advice on dealing with him or surviving until he self destructs hopefully before someone destroys him.

16 January, 2005 18:00 Reply

Re: the trainer from hell - I work with someone similar to that. My buddies at work and I have discovered that paying her a compliment first thing in the morning makes her easier to get along with for the rest of the day. I think they have a huge need to be noticed and if they don't get some kind of recognition or pat on the back they get grumpy. Good luck with this one.

20 January, 2005 03:45 Reply

Mr.Jeff Dray,
Great article! Finally I recognize what species my boss is Procurator illigitmus Maximus a.k.a. Mean and nasty! Warrning
this species becomes very hostile when hearing the trigger words family emergancy I need time off!

27 January, 2005 11:17 Reply

My boss doesn't fall into those categories, but although I receive great performance ratings and monetary awards, every time a perspective employer interviews him about me they end up hiring someone else. What species would the boss be that won't let you move on and up in your career?

17 March, 2005 16:46 Reply

I didn't see an example of my manager here but feel she must fall into a "type" or category.

My manager insists she is approachable and prefers direct communication, yet is forever putting emphasis on the need to be able to function within an ambibuous environment. The only true ambiguity I've experienced is created by her.

When I answer a question, she replies with a series of three to five questions. Her "casual" one-on-ones intimidate most of her staff to the extent that most everyone dreads communicating with her at all. A typical new employee will break down into tears at least once within their first two months of "initiation" into this managers reign. Keep in mind that with this manager, no matter what the answer is, you will always be wrong. This way, she remains in control to determine what the right answer is.

She emails unsatisfactory action plan ratings, rather than call a private meeting to discuss areas of improvement. When action has been taken to correct areas needing improvement, no rating is provided. This, I assume is so that she can find another stumbling block to hurdle for her report.

When confronted with the fact that not one word of praise has been given by her, she answers, without blinking that there is nothing positive to comment on from her perspective. However, she fails to recall that the person she is insulting was personally selected by her. One would wonder what grabbed her interest during the interview, if there is nothing positive to comment on now.

24 May, 2005 07:41 Reply

what about the email boss-who rather than talk with staff prefers to email each of to reprimand us for "bad" decisions.. Very in control-authority type person

18 January, 2006 07:33 Reply

Very entertaining. Could easily classify all past bosses.

23 April, 2006 01:39 Reply

My boss is intimidated by me. Rather than have us work together as a team she leaves me out of the loop of everything. I have to ask other people what's going on or I'll find out after the fact. Thanks to her, I am now being transffered. Do I have a recourse? Please answer at ada1153@yahoo.com

Thanks

28 June, 2006 19:49 Reply