Going to work every day and taking pleasure in what you regularly do can help beat the Monday blues. Also, people and the work environment play a huge role in making each day’s work exciting. Let’s admit the fact that we have heard stories about complex managers or have experienced one ourselves. An employee leaving the office because of a toxic manager has become common nowadays. It often leads to loss of talent, higher training or recruiting cost, and dissent from the employees left behind.
In my opinion, not everyone wants to set an example of a bad boss. Managing people can be a challenging task, even if you are a high performer. But, just because your employees have dodged, you doesn’t mean you don’t have room for improvement. However, it is worth recognizing the red flags of a toxic boss. Then, you can rectify your mistakes and create a healthy working environment for your team. It would lead to higher productivity of the employees and even ensure your growth as a leader.
So, start today and begin scanning the signs that I am going to share with you.
1. You Are A Helicopter Boss: Are you that kind of boss who always controls your employees’ small or big activities? If yes, then you are a micromanager, often known as a helicopter boss. Micromanagement is one of the biggest complaints that employees give about their bosses. Such managers hover over their employees and make all their decisions. This leads to the employees not finding room for development, learning, and growth. Also, micromanaging can lead to demotivation and disengagement among your team members.
2. You Are A Hypercritic Boss: Some bosses enjoy insulting and criticizing their employees. Instead of focusing on the loopholes where they require improvement, they keep on pointing out errors. If you are constantly shouting and giving aggressive criticism to your team members, you might not be liked by anyone. Belittling and bullying your team can not be accepted by a leader. So, ensure that constructive feedback is provided personally. It will help them improve in a better way and will be motivating at the same time.
3. You Are An Adamant Boss: If you are the type of a boss who believes in the theory of “my way or highway,” then a fallout is substantial. Rejecting or not considering your teammate’s opinions will slow down innovation. Such behavior might even discourage them from providing their feedback. As a boss, if you have always turned down your team’s ideas because you believe that things should be done only one way, you must be cautious. This kind of thinking will leave your team feeling frustrated and rejected in the long run.
4. You Are An AWOL Boss: Let me first tell you the full form of AWOL. It’s absent without leave. A manager or a boss can be synonymous with AWOL when an employee cannot reach out to them. Unfortunately, many times bosses focus more on their project rather than assisting their team. Whenever an employee has a question or a concern, the door is shut. After all, team members want their manager to be a motivator and a mover in their department. But, often, bosses are disinterested in guiding their employees, resulting in a high risk of attrition rate.
5. You Are A Credit Hungry Boss: Some managers don’t believe in sharing the spotlight with their employees and take all the credit for the task being done. Instead, such bosses put the team members in the frontline when it comes to challenging situations. Such a scenario demotivates the team, and they eventually lose respect for their seniors as well. Instead, be a good manager and make your teammates feel secure, and share the credit along with them as well. This kind of practice will provide them with recognition, consistency and will boost their productivity.
Is There A Way Ahead?
A boss or a manager is a person who can bring out the best in an employee and ensures that every team member reaches their full potential. But these alarming signs can sometimes stop you and your team from working together without any hassles. Leaders can change their negative behavior, but it is an exercise in maturity that requires practice. So, it’s worth giving it a try!
