A while back we posted a piece about “co-worker horror stories” breaking down the different types of co-workers you might be stuck with. You know these types: The Cliff Clavin Smart Alec, the Great Houdini, the Finger Pointer, the Slug and the Complainer. Where would these noxious workers be without their very own support system from the bosses from hell category? Now we can really dish the dirt. Who do you work for?
1. THE DRILL SERGEANT BOSS
This type of boss could also be referred to as the “My way or the highway” Boss or simply as the Bully. They’re the kind of manager who would rather steam roll over a suggestion box on fire then take any advice from their staff. They’ve got their way of doing things and that’s the end of the discussion.
2. THE JOKER BOSS
The Joker Boss type isn’t the Batman villain joker but Michael Scott from “The Office” joker. This is the kind of boss who loves telling a good story, hanging out with the “gang” and cares more about the batting averages for the company softball team than getting the job done. The Joker can be fun to hang out with but what happens when their slacking off means you’ve got to work extra hours? Who’s laughing then? With this boss you need to set some boundaries.
3. THE MISERY BOSS
Or actually the “misery loves company boss.” This is the boss who desperately needs to get a life. Since they have nothing to go home for (or want to avoid their home at all costs) they have no problem working late. Guess what that means? If they work late, then everybody works late. You could try fixing this type of boss up with a friend on the outside in the hopes that a new romance will distract them. But this could go horribly wrong for a number of reasons. Best way to avoid the dark cloud following around the Misery Boss is to get your work done fast and head for the hills at quitting time before they find you!
4. THE FRANK BURNS BOSS
Remember Major Frank Burns from M*A*S*H*? Even with all his obvious incompetence somehow he was made a major and a surgeon. This type of boss is clueless from the get go. Quite often they have some powerful ties to upper management like being somebody’s wayward nephew or son-in-law. If you’ve got this kind of boss, chances are they’re taking credit for all your hard work. The best defense with a Frank Burns Boss is to back up all your achievements on paper. Cold hard evidence is the only win in this work situation.
5. THE FENCE SITTER BOSS
This is the kind of boss who doesn’t like to make decisions even though making decisions is their only job. The Fence Sitter Boss is closely aligned with the Nervous Nelly who is so afraid of ticking off the upper level bosses that they won’t even make changes that could actually be good. Things get done with the Fence Sitter but you can forget about improvements or streamlining operations. The Fence Sitter isn’t going to rock the boat.
So, who’s your boss? We’d love to hear your boss horror stories.
— Meyer
One Comment
My worst boss ever was a micro managing control freak, who was unable to ever admit he didn’t know something. His assistant was frequently physically ill on Sunday nights, because of how nasty he was to her. (She couldn’t afford to quit as she was the sole source of health insurance for her family.) When I worked for him I had a migraine at least once a week. I never had one again after leaving that place. If he was away, he would call at 4:55 pm each day and spend at least 20 minutes on the phone asking needless questions. (Quitting time was 5pm) He would take credit for the work other people had done.
When I left, every single person in the office came up to me and told me how much they envied me and that they were all looking for other jobs. Within 2 years, the ten people who worked with him had all quit.