How to Not Suck as a Boss

Photocase652263263333

Ever work under a maniacal boss who kicks you to the curb when something goes wrong? In our opinion, most bosses have little grasp on how to properly manage people, let alone run a business or an organization.

Most workers hate their bosses, for good reason:

  • "I'm right. You are wrong. Obey me," they preach and pout.
  • "I'm higher on the organizational chart. That means I'm better than you. Obey me." the arrogance goes.
  • "Wrong. Horrible. Do it again," says the power-hungry, hierarchical bastards sitting on their ivory towers thinking they're kings of the jungle.

Three simple, sweet messages for you maniacal bosses:

  1. When something fails, take responsibility.

    Your employee misses a deadline. You blame him for negligence. All his fault, you say. Whose fault is it, really? Yours. You didn't communicate clearly enough. You didn't give good enough directions. You placed him with the wrong people. The list goes on. It's within your control to determine your outcomes. Always. So, start taking responsibility. Get in that mindset: "Whenever something fails, it's my fault." If an employee truly does suck: "It's my fault for making a bad hiring decision."
  2. Soon, you'll start making ridiculously wise decisions.
  3. Understand employee motivations. Listen. They'll shine for you.

    When Tiffany first signs up as your employee, she has a number of ideas to help you change the world. She's initially ecstatic to join your environmental non-profit organization. Yet, you don't understand her motivations. You don't grasp her capabilities. Sure, you ask her -- but, you don't listen. Instead, you start giving her menial tasks. Go fetch some water for me, you say. Go fix the printer, you demand. Soon, you start getting a walking-working-robotic drone, whose energy and motivation you've dramatically drained. And, all she wanted to do was help you change the world. She could've done so. All you had to do? Listen.
  4. Reverse the organizational chart. You're on the bottom. You'll freakishly change your mindset.

    And we emphasize: freakishly. When you think you're on the bottom of the organizational chart, a weird, fuzzy feeling happens:

    "If I don't serve my employees, they'll fire me."

    It's an amazing mechanism that drives you to deliver results. It drives you to get off your high-horse, and start delivering what you were meant to do: serve your freakin' employees like the kick-ass boss that you are!

The sweet rockin' template:

"I will not suck as a boss by being what most bosses are: an egotistical meanie."

Posted July 28, 2006 in Leadership, Management

5 Comments

on How to Not Suck as a Boss

Slow Leadership » News and Views: September 1st 2007
2007-09-01 05:34:26 UTC

[...] “Ever work under a maniacal boss who kicks you to the curb when something goes wrong? In our opinion, most bosses have little grasp on how to properly manage people, let alone run a business or an organization.” [Read more >>] [...]

Gangadharan
2008-05-04 11:04:21 UTC

Such a Wonderful article.

Thanks for the people who done all the hardworking. Congrats to the Team

SR
2008-07-10 14:33:57 UTC

Sam Walton - "How you treat your employees is how your employees will treat your customers."

Andee Sellman, One Sherpa
2008-09-30 05:08:37 UTC

Thanks for the really great tips in the article.
One of the reason why we chose our brand was to try and work from a servant leadership perspective. While we don't always get it right, the timely reminder helps us keep away from the zone in the article and as my old grandfather used to say - 'Aim for the moon and at least you'll clear the pine trees'

Sherri
2009-06-08 20:21:06 UTC

While we lowly employees work our butts off to make ends meet without raises or bonuses for years, I overhear that my boss is going on a European vacation for a month and a 1/2. I guess everyone's got their priorities. His obviously has nothing to do with rewarding those who helped pay for his upcoming adventure. Jack Ass!

Leave your ridiklislydoptastic comment



Favorites

How to Spark Your Company's Creativity

Scenario: "Dude, we gotta sit around all day and discuss how to be more creative than our competi...More »

Why "New" Business Ideas Suck

Scenario: "Dude, let's read more business books, learn crazy new innovative practices, so we can ...More »

What Drives Your Company

Johnny's building his business. He doesn't keep track of how many customers come daily. He fa...More »

How to Overcome Your Fears

Scenario: "Dude, my fears of certain things will never change. Ahh!" One of the biggest crimes in...More »

How to Excel

Scenario: "Dude, we've learned all we know. It's time to apply our knowledge and do the work. Ya...More »

Why Disrupt Your Business

Scenario: "Dude, we're frickin' fine where we are. Let's not fix something that ain't broken. Yay...More »

Why Strengthen Your Strengths

Scenario: "Dude, I'm not seeing success in: ______________. I'm going to do something completely ...More »

How to Build Successful Business Products

Scenario: "Dude, we gotta do a bunch of market research to see what the market wants. Billions. Y...More »

How to Upsell Anything

Scenario: "Dude, just offer them our other services after they buy something. We'll make billions...More »

How to Learn New Skills

Teach a kid to ride a bike? Training wheels. Teach a teen to ride a car? Passenger-side brakes...More »

WTF is Trizle?

Trizle helps you rock ___ with your business.

Subscribe

Get a complimentary subscription to our freshest articles through email or through your feed reader.

The Trizle Love

"Love your post and straight talkin' style."

Deborah Torres Patel, Fearless in Five

"You guys are funny as hell. You get my bookmark, hurrah!"

Ciara, Website Copy Writer

"I love Trizle! I love Trizle! I love Trizle! "

Anthony Rasmussen

"I just found your site and you've got me hooked."

Jill, Tips from Home

"I love this post. I love all of the posts here. Sometimes I laugh so hard and other times I am just shaking my head up and down happy that you guys seem to always put it straight, simple and real. I am doing a video on this post and uploading it to 40 video sites with a link back to you. Hope you don't mind!"

Danny Arrington, Mastery of Mindset

"I just "stumbleupon'd" this post. Freaking fantastic. I love it! Especially considering I just launched my first online business last Wednesday. Perfect timing. I feel better. I think I'll have a beer. (It is 5pm on Friday.)"

Erin, Durtbagz

"I love your journal, I love your style. I think that a collection of these entries over the past year or so would make a great book. You know, a big colorful light read with all of the photos and everything. I'd buy it! Keep up the good work!"

Rob Lambert, SpringQ

"Very well written post -- nice work. And great design too, I really like what you're doing here."

21st Century Citizen, 21st Century Citizen

"I love your style. Fun and to the point."

BlueSkyBrothers.com, Blue Sky Brothers

"You kick ass! Your articles are the funniest thing I've ever read from a real G like yourself. Keep up da good work. Your #1 Argentinian fan."

Don Starriol de la Vega

Don't Miss Out!

Subscribe to Trizle through email or through your feed reader.