#071: Have a Bad Boss? Do This.

Have you ever worked for a really bad boss? The kind that kind that makes you want to tear your hear out, or quit, or maybe both? Nearly everybody has at some point, including us! In fact, we’ve got a few of our best bad boss stories to share today—plus some from our listeners.

So what do you do when your boss is really insufferable?

In our experience a bad boss can do incredible damage to morale, productivity, and even the emotional health of the team. The good news is that there are ways to do more than just cope with the situation. We’ve got tips to share that can help you thrive even in a less-than-ideal work team environment.

Oh, and if you are a boss, as many of our listeners are, there’s something here for you too. You can use these insights to reverse-engineer your leadership and be sure you’re not exhibiting any “bad boss” behaviors.

This episode of Lead to Win is brought to you by The LeaderScore Assessment, a simple tool to evaluate the health of your leadership. Find out more at leadto.win/leaderscore.

Here’s a peek inside the show—

• We each share our worst boss experiences, including one that led me (Megan) to quit after two weeks and another brought me (Michael) to offer up a resignation.
• Using bad boss stories from several listeners, we’ll share tips and insights for dealing with the Undercommuncator, Mr. Fudge-the-Numbers, Ms. Insecure, and other types of bad bosses.
• We’ll define the difference between a boss who lacks skill or awareness and one who is unethical or immoral—with tips for how to respond to each.
• You’ll learn specifically how the Enneagarm and other personality assessments can benefit anyone in leadership—including you, if you’re a boss.
• We’ll give you some insight on when and how to confront a boss, depending on the severity of the situation.
• We’ll also define some parameters for when to confront a bad boss and when to report his or her behavior straight to human resources.
• We’ll show you which circumstances may call for your resignation on ethical grounds—and which don’t.
• You’ll get a handle on when it’s best to support your boss in public as you confront in private—and when to escalate the situation.
• Best of all, we’ll show you the one way you can profit from any boss experience, no matter how bad it may be.

We really think this episode is going to be a game changer for frustrated employees. And for some leaders who may lack self-awareness. Whichever role you’re in, team member or leader, these insights will make your work environment less stressful and more productive.

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