They say if you don’t know who the office jerk is, it’s probably you. You know what’s even worse? When you’re in charge, and your employees think you’re the boss from hell–yet you don’t even know it.
Recently, I asked readers about the worst bosses they’ve ever had. Hundreds replied. As I read their answers, I heard similar stories over and over. In many cases, the bosses probably didn’t realize what they were doing, or how their behavior affected their teams.
So, in the interest of improving the entire American workplace (you’re welcome!), I’ve compiled the 20 warning signs that mean bosses are making their employees miserable. Assuming nobody wants to be hated and disrespected, I’ll bet most bosses don’t even realize they’re doing them.
As a boss, how many of these statements ring true? If the answer is more than a few, it’s probably time to change your approach.
1. You’re totally disorganized.
Disorganized as a boss almost certainly causes stress for the people who work for you. Even if your employees pretend it doesn’t bother them, that’s only because they don’t feel like they can come clean with you about it.
2. You micro-manage.
There are occasions when a situation is so critical that the boss should feel obligated to step in, but these should be exceptions to the rule. Micro-managing tells your employees that you’re controlling, and you lack trust in them.
3. You feel like a fraud.
Most non-schizophrenic people sometimes feel out of their element. That said, if you find yourself consistently thinking your employees are more competent than you are, it will affect how you treat them, for the worse. Things likely won’t end well.
4. You catch yourself thinking about how much you hate your job.
You have three options: Improve your job, find another job, or fix your attitude. Whichever you choose, do it fast. Hating your job makes it impossible to be an effective leader at work. Your team will ultimately resent you.
5. You suffer from “squirrel syndrome.”
Meaning: you focus your team on one goal or issue, and then abruptly change focus to something unrelated. We all have to pivot sometimes in business, but if this becomes one of your defining characteristics in your employees’ eyes, good luck leading!
6. You complain that people don’t put cover sheets on their TPS reports.
Metaphor, obviously. If you waste time on “administrivia”, insisting that people perform pointless make-work–well, nobody’s going to vote you boss of the year. I sure wouldn’t work for you!
7. You insist you’re right and your employees are wrong.
There are some times when you have to overrule an employee and insist that he or she do things your way. However, if things get to that point, it’s most often your fault for failing to lead effectively, or failing to hire correction in the first place. Speaking of which…
8. You lose interest in employees you were once excited about.
Chances are, you’re either not hiring correctly, or you’re not sure what your business should really be focused on. Either explanation suggests you have some deep thinking to do.
9. You check boxes.
If you’re a boss who also has a boss, sometimes you have to ensure your team is doing X, or has been warned about Y, in order to satisfy the people you report to. Making your team jump through hoops makes them resent you, however; try to manage up a better.
10. You show disrespect for employees’ time.
Did you send emails to your team at 10 pm without being clear whether you needed an immediate reply? Did you ignore them all day but pepper them with questions as they tried to head home for the night? Try putting yourself in their shoes. Speaking of which…
11. You drone on and on and on…
Long ago, I had a boss who talked on and one–and I learned he’d been nicknamed the “Mound of Sound.” This was not a term of endearment or respect. ‘Nuff said.
12. You think, “Thank God I don’t have to do that. I’m the boss!”
If your team has some undesirable tasks that are part of their jobs, you’re best off pitching in sometimes–and certainly not lording over the fact that they have to do things that you don’t. Otherwise, it’s a recipe for resentment.
13. You don’t laugh–or at least crack a smile.
Humor deflates negative stress. H.G. Wells put it best 100 years ago: “The crisis of today is the joke of tomorrow.” There’s a reason why “humorless” isn’t just a description; it’s an insult.
14. You get a lot of quizzical looks (or worse).
This suggests you may lack emotional intelligence or communications skills. If your team’s daily job doesn’t make sense to them in the grand scheme, that could be a sign of a big leadership problem.
15. You take credit for an employee’s work–or pin blame.
Sorry. You’re the boss. That means you share credit and take blame.
16. You treat your employees like friends, not team members.
It’s lonely at the top, but don’t think you can overcome that loneliness by blurring lines about who bears the ultimate responsibility at work (it’s you!).
17. You swear a lot.
Profanity is a useful tool, but overuse can easily get you in trouble.
18. You feel relieved that you got away with something.
Raise this to the power of 10 if you spent any time worrying that the authorities will someday catch onto the way you’ve been acting!
19. You don’t take care of your health, or express your love.
This is important for you–but even more so for the example you set for your team. If you don’t make your health and your family among your top priorities, it’s harder for them to do so, too.
20. Your last celebration was more than a month ago.
Nobody likes working at a place where the only reward for hard work is more work. If you’re not celebrating your wins, you’re missing a great opportunity–and a chance to have a little fun.
The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.