Bad Boss? Learn How to Manage Your Manager

Bad Boss? Learn How to Manage Your Manager
By Jim Clemmer

If you think you're working for a bad boss, you have plenty of company. Of 1,118 people who completed a survey at the Badbossology.com web site last year, "48 per cent said they would fire their boss if they could, 29 per cent would have their boss assessed by a workplace psychologist and 23 per cent would send their boss for management training."

No doubt those who would surf a site by that name are feeling more than a little disgruntled with a manager. But bad feelings about bad bosses abound. Many people lose the boss lottery and, through no fault of their own, end up reporting to an ineffectual manager. You may not have chosen your boss, but you don't have to be a victim of his or her weaknesses.

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Bad Boss? Learn How to Manage Your Manager

Am I a good boss ?

Am I a good boss  ?

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Have you asked?

Have you asked?

Yes I did and the answer was yes. Do you think the result was biased ?

Yes I did and the answer was yes. Do you think the result was biased ?

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Probably, how did you ask - group? face to face? questionnaire? were they looking for a pay rise? were you in a good mood? was there really no learning points. Either you're perfect or they're lying.

I tried face to face and then with a questionnaire.

Both cases had the same result: good boss.

But I know I'm not perfect, hence I know they were lying.

Maybe the company should engage consultants to perform the survey.

Maybe a hidden camera recoder

It's very difficult to get unbiased results.

For sure my boss has never asked my opinion.

I tried face to face and then with a questionnaire.  Both cases had the same result: good boss.

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Again, again, tell me again - am I the greatest?

The boss management startegies are great.

Hello Jean, it's quite an old topic, but as relevant as ever. To take feedback to the next level have you considered or do you practice;

360-degree feedback

Without knowing everything about it, I can see nothing but benefit from getting feedback from self, peers, bosses and subordinates. I'm sure it would help to provide one with a more rounded picture, uncover many assumptions and would help to improve relationships and performance.

Does anyboy use 360 degree feedback?

Regards,
Simon

Dear Simon,

Yes, in our company we use the 360-feedback for the Managers and supervisors level. But the format for Managers and Supervisors is different. For the managers, the questions are more about the managerial skills and their bussiness comprehension. As for the supervisors, it much more concerning about team building and communication skills. For me, I prefer the 360-feedback questions is equal among every levels.

To be frankly, I prefer to criticize the team building and communication skills of my superiors. Because sometimes I think they "forgot" those ordinary but important things.

Regards,


Arya

Dear Simon,

Yes, in our company we use the 360-feedback for the Managers and supervisors level. But the format for Managers and Supervisors is different. For the managers, the questions are more about the managerial skills and their bussiness comprehension. As for the supervisors, it much more concerning about team building and communication skills. For me, I prefer the 360-feedback questions is equal among every levels.

To be frankly, I prefer to criticize the team building and communication skills of my superiors. Because sometimes I think they "forgot" those ordinary but important things.

Regards,


Arya

Yes I think often the higher management believe training and development is for everyone else. How wrong they are and how much they and the business would benefit from shared learning.

Thanks for your feedback Arya.

Regards,
Simon

Yes, management is not an easy job : how many people are 'promoted' to become managers without any skills and 'manager' behaviour? If you're a good technical it's not proved at all you will be a good managed, and vice versa. 360-feedback is a good way to have feedbacks only if you -and bosses - take it into account.

Concerning 360, the firm where I work used it. However I'm not sure we can assess this kinf of method is fine for every firm/ factory,

Regards,

Emmanuel.

I think senior management, by that I mean the real top level are often misunderstood. Quite often lower level employees are totally perplexed as to how they got into their position and what they do exactly apart from talk and pontificate. I think many lower level employees think that senior managers are just the companies politicians.

Personally, I have not used the 360 feedback yet and have yet noy being considered.This is being used by the corporate and Head Office when a employee is being considered for a higher poistion (i.e. corporate level or regional level).

I think senior management, by that I mean the real top level are often misunderstood. Quite often lower level employees are totally perplexed as to how they got into their position and what they do exactly apart from talk and pontificate. I think many lower level employees think that senior managers are just the companies politicians.

Dear Simon,

Tell me about it... Well, being perplexed or no, I guess a Boss always has "defensive argument" to explain their behaviour .

However, I dont like the some Boss's particular behaviors like:
1. Pointing our "nose" at the front of people (esp. at meeting) when we did some mistake.
2. Only able to see "what you havent achieved" but never see "what we had achieved"
3. If my boss didnt happy, then I can't let you happy
4. I can always have my subordinate's "nose" to be pointed when s**t happens.
5. My image on my boss is the top priority of my subordinate.

Sounds like overkill? Hmmmph... I hope I didnt transform into those behaviors someday.. Amin.

Regards,


Arya

Dear Simon,

Tell me about it... Well, being perplexed or no, I guess a Boss always has "defensive argument" to explain their behaviour .

However, I dont like the some Boss's particular behaviors like:
1. Pointing our "nose" at the front of people (esp. at meeting) when we did some mistake.
2. Only able to see "what you havent achieved" but never see "what we had achieved"
3. If my boss didnt happy, then I can't let you happy
4. I can always have my subordinate's "nose" to be pointed when s**t happens.
5. My image on my boss is the top priority of my subordinate.

Sounds like overkill? Hmmmph... I hope I didnt transform into those behaviors someday.. Amin.

Regards,


Arya

Sorry it's taken so long for me to wake up. I think climbing the greasy pole takes so much out of bosses they have no energy left to...well…be a boss. I do wonder sometimes how some people get so far - after all us minions know so much better.

Regards,
Simon