Most of us are not freelancers, digital nomads or CEOs but employees, even if we can do freelance work. And I’m referring to myself as well. The most influential element in our work is not money or benefits – It’s the boss. Yes, that person who can make our life “heaven” or drag us (kicking and screaming) to hell. The boss is the person you have a lot of interaction with. They also “control” your destiny at work.
Most people have some complaints regarding their boss. Present company included. What is the cause of that? Why is your boss not doing a good job? After all, most of us know exactly what to do about it. Below are eight reasons why your boss sucks.
1. The boss man is actually just a… man
Most bosses are not successful or driven, and lack a high emotional IQ like most business magazines would have you believe. They issues in their personal lives and character flaws, just like we have.
I have worked for grouchy people: females with a ticking biological clock and men who are going through divorce. Those people may have our sympathy, but only for a short while. It gets old very fast, and we start to feel the grind of just being around them.
2. Being in charge is hard
I don’t know about you, but when I was heading teams and departments – that was tough. You manage people who are completely different, you need to make hard choices even if you are not ready for them and you also need to answer to your own boss. Telling me to “suck it up” is fine, but it does not help much. If you are a regular employee, it’s easy to focus on doing your own thing. When you manage a team, you are now a kindergarten teacher.
I have met people who were subject to the “Peter Principle” – they were good employees and got promoted to team leaders. Once there, they had many issues dealing with their teams. One person I worked with became a team leader. He had good tech skills, but was a “nice guy” (in the worse sense of the word). He had trouble giving feedback and some of the team would simply “walk all over him”.
The boss, after having to deal with everything
3. They learned from the wrong man
Throughout human history, most people learned by being an apprentice. If you were a carpenter, blacksmith or farmer, you worked for a few years under someone’s guidance. But what happens if your mentor sucks?
In that case you pick bad habits that stick with you.
I have seen people emulate their boss’ bad attitude, since they thought that this “gets the job done”. They have terrible people skills and are proud of it. The same way that game-denialists say that you are unauthentic when you use game. If you studied the wrong material, you will fail the test.
4. The boss was promoted even though he is not a manager
Being a good manager is not the main reason people get promoted but politics, work skills, and timing. Managing people is usually not on the list. I myself have been such a boss. I had no idea how to manage people and did a poor job of it in the first year.
5. Poor (if any) training
Most companies simply do not train their managers. You should learn “on the job” and with no resources invested. Sometimes middle managers go to specific seminars, classes or formal training, and this is the exception to the norm. I want to mention that most of those trainings are not for C-level executives, who usually needs them more.
Maybe not exactly the kind of training we had in mind
6. Power abuse
“Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely”.
Imperfect people + power = trouble.
Examples: Harvey Weinstein, The Clintons, Nick Denton, Brian Chesky.
7. Lack of accountability
Most people want to do their job well, even manage. But some people just don’t care. For example, your boss may be humiliating the staff, but he gets results. They may have dirt on their supervisors, so they have to tolerate them, or in the worst case both hierarchies share the same behavior. In other cases, the boss has no one to answer to. If they are even slightly sadistic, you are going to suffer. Even if they are not, their flaws are going to be your problem.
8. He doesn’t know how to give feedback
Most people have no idea how they are perceived. This means no feedback loop. The employees know their boss very well – methods, behaviors and quirks. It is very rare that employees share that knowledge with the boss. This means that instead of correcting their ways, the bosses keep on doing what they’ve done for years. This is because people fear “Kill the messenger” syndrome. Some people just don’t want to hear bad things about themselves. This is why being truly honest with women gets you nowhere.
Your boss is an ordinary person, with regular problems. That affects you, and may hurt you, but understanding why your boss sucks lays the foundation for correcting your situation.
Read Next: Don’t Work For A Female Boss
Good points. Another aspect worth looking at is: Why does your boss hate you?
For me this has been quite a common occurrence. I suppose, on self reflection, one reason is because I often have little, to no, respect for my boss. This is partly due to a flaw in my character where I dislike authority, and partly because I often find I am more skillful and hard working than my superiors. Which brings me to the other reason my boss often hates me: intimidation. If they know you’re better than them they will be fearful that you’ll take their job. This is understandable and is all my fault. It’s just like if you play golf with your boss, don’t ever thrash them.
One thing to keep in mind, employers will play games with your mind and take advantage of any weakness that you show. I had to learn the hard way how to protect myself from employers like that. I strongly recommend that you study the labor laws of your state & locality. Also it may be a good idea to find a lawyer who specializes in labor law in case you need someone with that expertise. One last thing, do not sign any documents unless you know what said documents are for. Do not let yourself be intimidated in to signing anything unless you know what said document is for.
The weakness in this post is displayed by “labor law” being misdefined. Labor is for unions, employee is for suckers like us. Labor has some rights, employee none unless it has a vagina or is non-white.
Disagree.
Labor laws apply to employees. Unions may have special conditions, or specific laws apply to them.
Most people will never own our business. No reason to disrespect the majority.
Law #1
Never outshine the master.
I’ve gotta tell you, it’s a joy to have a great mentor to work for; this guy- we’ll call him Abel- truly world class engineer, boss and friend. Now I’ve learnt some great things not just about engineering but about work ethic and determination, people management and business, although I left to start my own hustles, we still grab dinner once a week and discuss our projects, if I have some time I’ll head down to his warehouse and fit an air filter or something to the machines he’s testing, help entertain clients, he’ll likewise send business my way, all the while, like yourself disliking authority who only got to their position because of some bs bachelors degree.
If you are so smart as you say you are, haven’t you looked into finding your own hustles? Or starting your own business, being your own boss? Perhaps your job is so easy it only requires a modicum of effort.
Thanks for the advice. Agree. One thing, you misunderstood when I said I was smarter than my bosses. It’s not because I’m super smart (though I’m not dumb), it’s more a case of the bosses being dumb and/or lazy.
With intelligence you can break it up into many areas, one area where I’m not great is leading, mainly because I hate giving other people shitty jobs so end up doing them myself and handing out the “fun” stuff to everyone else. It’s just not in my nature to be a cunt, which you kinda need to be a strong boss.
Of course, one solution simply is to get rid of them. Sweep them off the table.
Reference a Michael Caine Movie from 1990 ‘A Shock To The System.’
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKxGPG3rLn0 if you’re interested.)
From IMDB: “When you think you’re at the top of the corporate ladder and then discover they have managed to pull that ladder away, sometimes you have to take it upon yourself to ‘level’ the playing field, both professionally and personally. Michael Caine delivers an electrifying performance as Graham Marshall, who quickly catches onto the possibilities as he clears all the hurdles to occupy the corner office.”
Very much a Red-Pill movie.
Just a thought.
VicB3
My boss kicks ass because I’m my own boss.
Good point. It is better to make less money and be your own boss than to eat shit for 5, 10 years.
One simple rule of professionalism is don’t bring your personal baggage into the workplace. Not sure why that is hard to do, but in the past when I had control over personnel decisions I always screened people out if they brought personal life to work. Not micromanaging is another very negative yet surprisingly common attribute I find with bosses.
Pro Tip
“The dictators handbook” by Alastair Smith is a handy little tome that’s mandatory reading for the corporate employee.
Management books are only as useful to the degree that they can help you predict, and then alter outcomes.
This book will do for your corporate Life what game did for your dating life.
The last 5% Takes the lessons to a absurd extreme but the first 95% is essential to understanding the social structure of the corporate hierarchy and how to survive and even thrive within it.
Or if you your boss is a baby boomer mangina obama cocksucker. The worst kind.
Oh yeah and female managers/”bosses” are always pure shit because 1) women are NOT leaders in any way shape or form 2) women have emotional meltdowns and cannot handle stress 3) women are overgrown children… Always
The only good reason to have a woman working with you is for “sports fucking”.
Sports fucking?? The company would have to pay a sportfucker. It would make more sense to hire a sexy helper or assistant, someone who does actual work and who learns quick. If you work in a shop for example, they always hire some young guy for a helper. So then you have to blow your evening looking for action. If only they could hire a sexy assistant so all emyloyees needs are met. Sure some dude can help you on the job, but some jobs have no wife material anywhere in sight. Plus a woody interferes with your job hustle. This is why it is best to work for yourself and hire your own help. Someone special who knows what to do when you say “hand me down the 21mm box end.”
https://render.fineartamerica.com/images/rendered/default/poster/8/10/break/images-medium-5/1-sexy-pinup-girl-with-rat-rod-car-jt-photodesign.jpg
Someone who has smaller hands to reach in small spaces when needed and can hold your smoke
https://thumb1.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/59162/59162,1286199663,4/stock-photo-pin-up-girl-in-garage-with-a-classic-truck-62285761.jpg
And keep things from rolling
http://www.digitalpinupmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/jeffthrowerpinup_720b.jpg
And with nice long legs to pump the brake pedal
https://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/59162/59162,1287500218,3/stock-photo-pin-up-girl-driving-a-classic-truck-63310891.jpg
Yes a very special someone who can hold the column shift up with her knee as you work below, being veery gentle with that other heel on the glass puh-leease.
http://thumb9.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/59162/59162,1286199661,2/stock-photo-pin-up-girl-in-a-classic-rat-rod-car-62285755.jpg
She’s soo close to earning her grease monkey patch! You gotta have faith in her. Now check the mirrors.
http://image.shutterstock.com/z/stock-photo-pin-up-girl-in-a-classic-rat-rod-car-62104360.jpg
Eeeh . . and keep an eye out for the pizza delivery
https://thumb1.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/59162/59162,1285948903,4/stogk-photo-pin-up-girl-in-a-classic-car-62104375.jpg
XOXO she did it. Certified helper.
the best post…can you imagine what you would have to pay her if she assisted with lube job oil changes and torquing nuts? it would be hard to get the difficult money paying drudge work done, but once she gets the crank turned it would be on then. but only if i owned the business and she wasnt servicing any other customers or employees but me.
You don’t appreciate the term ‘sport fucking’ until working at horse stables as the only muscular straight man.
Feedback maybe once a year is sufficient and take your employees to dinner a few times per year . Other than that , if they need constant reassurance then they are not confident in themselves . You know when you’re doing superior work you don’t need anyone constantly telling you how bad or great you are
Disagree
Feedback is more required. If you did a good job – you should get feedback, not validation. If you messed up – feedback is mandatory.
Middle ground – also required (The boss needs to tell you what you should have done).
The other way around – the boss also needs to know when he was out of loine, or did a poor job himself. If he/she don’t get any feedback, they’ll continue on their course.
My former boss was a feminist of 34 years old living with her parents. That’s one hell of a twisted psyche and suppressed libido…damn
general rule of thumb that any sane man should follow…Dont sh1t where you eat.
meaning, dont ever threaten your livelyhood or income by f**king around with your fellow employees or bosses.. it NEVER ends well despite claims from “success” stories. if you be stuffing and creaming holes and mouths at your work/business, eventually the boss or employees will give you an ass f**king you will regret, no matter your orientation costing your your business livelyhood and income…unless you have that person specifically on a defined contract for the recreation (which is illegal in most places).
I banged 2 girls in 2 different companies . They initiated the sex and cut it off when they met other guys they wanted to bang . Just play cool , don’t get emotionally attached , and save all texts . Not a problem
Better watch it next time.
It could have ended differently – e.g. if one wanted commitment, and you refuse. Worse case scenario – jail (for false rape accusation) or loosing the job (for “hostile” work environment).
Next stop, sex addict rehab.
I saved All texts prior to each sexual encounter .. an “ I cant wait until you eat me out tonight” or “ that thick dick better be ready to go “ texts cannot be misconstrued into rape any way shape or form
I have to say that the only jobs I can handle a boss in are sales jobs or other commission jobs because all criticism will be based on me not performing and not in micro managing the most benign bullshit.
I had a Southern Christian Woman© boss and let me tell you she was the worst micromanager. I was managing a physical therapy office and this bitch had systems in place that made no sense and were repetitive and redundant. She was so worried about 4 forms being filled out properly (3 of these were internal and the other was for insurance purposes). I only focused on the important shit, the insurance forms. But eventually she got so caught up in her homemade excel spreadsheets that it started taking away from my regular job (of managing) and I was forced to worry about mindless data entry.
But did she hire someone to do the mindless data entry? No. She was a useless cheap cunt who fired her admin girl and then put her job on me on top of me having the manage the caseloads.
So I will add that one of the worst things to deal with is a:
1)Female boss
2)Who is a micromanager,
3)Is also cheap to hire the needed help,
4)Aaand thinks she holds a moral high ground (as Southern Christians can be some high and mighty annoying fucks).
On top of this her husband was a cuck who let her run the show. Alpha females need to stop existing. This bitch grew up a princess and no one ever checked her. This is the worst person to have as a boss. Also I don’t work there anymore. Working there made me realize the need to not be someone else’s bitch. Building my own business right now. The good income is not there yet but I am laying the ground work.
You have a crappy boss because you planned poorly.
manningthewall.com
time to get off from work now
kick the boss right in the head
I had a great boss. He taught me the “deli rule”. Simply put, you don’t get your meat where you get your bread. I have never had any problem, but then, I’m not running for office.
I’ve never had a good boss. I learned early on that I was proficient enough to be my own “boss.”
This is a good list but here’s a couple more:
Unless your boss is perceptive and can see thru BS and manipulation, he can be jerked around.
He is under his “boss” who may be deficient in one or more ateas.
The question shouldn’t be why there are so many lousy bosses, the question should really be why are there any good ones?
Logical, organized leadership selection and training: In the US – non-existent. Maybe if you serve in the military you might receive some organized command and leadership training…otherwise, forget about it.
Incentives for promoting strong and knowledgeable leaders: Huh? None in the public sector, in fact, could argue that this is dis-incentivized through base building and gerrymandering…Private sector, not much better – goals are primitively simple and horizons short, pump the apparent profit and stock price, dump then jump…..
Look to small business and sole proprietors for leaders or leaders in training….here leaders are selected by Darwinistic forces and develop some sort “game” or fail.
Like becoming expert at anything it takes that mix of practice, training and talent to be proficient and business spends far to little resource on leadership development to expect anything other than that the majority of their leadership will be poor to mediocre.