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TAI Motivational Moments Blog

Writer's pictureJerry Justice

Leadership Can Also Be Learned By AVOIDING What Others Do

bad boss

Much of what I've learned about leadership in my career I've learned from others. I've had immense privilege to have been mentored by some unbelievably talented and insightful leaders that I would do well to even strive to emulate. But as much as we can learn by the positive examples we see all around us, we can also learn how NOT to lead by the behavior of leaders who are not focused on others, but only on themselves. The Silicon Valley Business Journal recently asked its readers to provide their worst stories about bad bosses ( http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2014/08/14/silicon-valleys-nightmare-bosses-revealed-in.html?ana=e_du_pub&s=article_du&ed=2014-08-14&u=tGyEibiUUYy69uAHT82h5K0Ccag&t=1408104988&page=all ). As many of those as I've read over the years, some of these may have topped them! Here are a few highlights of the responses they received: “My boss recently told me I’m like the lead character in the movie "Bridesmaids" because ‘I’m a loser and nothing ever goes right for me.’” “My best terrible boss story is the one where my boss actually hit me across the back of my head because I did not type fast enough!!” “Boss dumped huge project on me Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. (while he knew I was out of the office doing research at his request) with a post-it note that said only due Monday, 8 a.m., research and outline all legal options; find me if questions. It was Easter weekend. He promptly left with his family for the weekend and remained unavailable. I left messages, all of which remained unanswered. I cancelled all my plans, spent the entire weekend working, and had the memo on his desk before 8 a.m. He, meanwhile, remained unreachable and also was NOT back on Monday at 8 a.m. On Tuesday, he reappeared in the office and while I was on the phone, planted himself at my office doorway, yelled at me at the top of his lungs nonstop (with everyone around the office coming out to see what all the commotion was), held up the memo, ripped it to pieces, threw it at me, and stormed off. (I had been in practice for a whole 2 months at that point. Great mentor, huh?)” “The one that mandated lie detector tests when cash drawer was short.” “My boss had sex with a colleague on his desk, on top of the financial reports I submitted for approval.” “Boss texted from the bathroom to bring him more toilet paper.” “Boss gave me my two weeks vacay time all at once so I could go on college visits with daughter. Three months later writes me up for taking too much time off. H/R supported me, but really??? Go figure . . .” “The time the boss told me to lie to the attorney general right after snorting cocaine in front of me!” Sometimes I think people have lost all sense of decency or even in what universe they operate! What about you? Do you have some bad boss stories to share with your fellow readers? Better yet, any good boss stories that we can all enjoy as a contrast? Share a comment and let us hear yours.

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