Escaping Horrible Bosses: Survival Guide

So, do you have a terrible boss? Let’s find out.

I’ll break down five archetypes of a Bad Boss and explain why each is dangerous for your career progression. I will do it in ascending order on the scale of being terrible. So, No. 5 will be the worst.

I will also give you some ideas on how to deal with each archetype and with a bad boss situation in general.

Bad Boss Archetype No. 1: The Micromanager

When I think of micromanagers, what springs to mind is coffee breath on my neck as someone looks over my shoulder and into my screen. Come to think of it, that sounds more like a Perv Boss, but hopefully, you get the point.

It’s the kind of manager who is more concerned with controlling how you do things than with actual results. Micromanagers don’t delegate and they just freaking love to give you feedback, like five times a week.

Their danger is that they stifle your skill development. By controlling every single little thing that you do, they don’t allow you to find your own style, be responsible for your work, and learn how to make decisions and live with them. In other words, they steal your autonomy.

Luckily, while this is a very annoying type of bad boss, it is, in fact, the easiest one to handle. Here we assume that your boss is a clean archetype, so he or she is a good person, while still being a micromanager.

Just try to understand where the micromanagement actually stems from. Most of the time, there are two main sources of it in people: lack of trust and insecurity.

You can quite easily address both. Just do these three things:

1. Establish a framework of communication. Putting it simply, instead of constant random check-ins, request and politely insist on a longer catch-up once every two weeks. I know it may be uncomfortable to insist on something with your boss, but if you frame it in the way of improving your performance and better accountability, it will work. Also, you won’t go far if you never push back with respect, so do it.

2. Once the regular catch-ups are agreed upon, make sure that you prepare for them well. Have a very clear breakdown of your progress in the last two weeks, how it aligns with the yearly objectives, and what your plan of actions for the next two weeks is and why it’s important. Be super honest and if you strongly believe in your course of action, push back with solid arguments. And ask for advice tactically, which means only for issues where you know your manager has expertise or experience.

3. It may sound obvious, but deliver good results. Consistently. And present them properly, so there would be no doubts about your achievements. If you struggle, again be honest about it.

Do these things and in a couple of months, your micromanager is almost guaranteed to get off your back and grant you way more autonomy. Also, those steps will help you develop a bunch of useful skills for your career.

Bad Boss Archetype No. 2: The Poltergeist

This is the polar opposite of the micromanager.

If your boss is hard to reach and doesn’t provide you with enough guidance and support, it may actually be worse than if he was shadowing your every step.

With an absent boss, you may feel lost in terms of what projects to pursue, where to get resources, and how to progress your career. And usually, when that boss randomly shows up, he causes a lot of disturbance for you, just like a poltergeist.

Be afraid of no ghost though! If you’re bold enough, all of this can be a great opportunity to flex your entrepreneurial muscle.

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Create a clear, detailed, but short pitch for a project or business plan that you want to pursue within the next 12 to 36 months. For example, let’s say it’s about launching a new product. Your plan should clearly present the opportunities and risks involved, the projected revenue based on market sizing, competitive landscape, as well as cost projections and resources you would need.

2. Ask your boss to green-light the concept and help you identify other key stakeholders in the company. Give them the same pitch, get them to sign it off.

3. Have quarterly update calls with all key stakeholders on your progress. Follow up every call with the same email chain with a short summary and support materials.

Do this and do your project well, and you will find that your boss will start giving you way more attention and support. And in the meantime, you’ll get bigger exposure with some important people in the company.

Bad Boss Archetype No. 3: The Thief

I personally detest this type a lot.

Bosses belonging to the Thief archetype love hoarding credit for themselves, often stealing it from deserving employees. These guys tend to say “we” when they talk about achievements that they have nothing to do with. Sometimes, they do it even if the results were achieved despite them. Just jump on the wagon at the last moment.

The main danger that such managers pose is that they can destroy your motivation. Because what the hell is the point in working hard and doing great things if some rodent just scurries in and steals your laurels? It’s demoralizing.

Just because I hate them so much, this archetype gets spot No. 3. However, they are quite easy to deal with.

All you need to do is have a good trail of evidence of your work. Email chains with key stakeholders involved, networking with the right people within the company, and actively giving credit to the right people while you do those things will render Thieves mostly harmless. They are only dangerous in the dark. Shine some light, and they will scatter like roaches.

Bad Boss Archetype No. 4: The Bully

This is the archetype that normally springs to mind when people imagine what a bad boss is. Mostly because of movies, I would say.

These are aggressive managers who like to belittle and intimidate their employees. They probably get off from these pathetic demonstrations of power.

I’m not a behavioral psychologist, but from the things I’ve read and my personal experience, people who end up in the Bully boss category usually were also bullies in school. These are insecure, cruel people, often victims of some bad upbringing.

They are dangerous because they can crush your self-esteem, motivation, and just general mental health.

Luckily, in this day and age, toxic bosses are way more rare than they used to be. Society has changed, and people who are abusive of their power can quite easily be brought down. Just be calm and methodical about it.

Here are the things you should do:

1. Don’t let them get into your head. This person is trash, not worth your stress.

2. Collect evidence. Messages, emails, other witnesses of behavior.

3. Report them, once you have enough evidence, make a big deal out of it, involve legal if you need to.

4. Watch them burn at the stake.

Now, a couple of disclaimers here. Firstly, sometimes these steps may not work. Bullies can be very cunning in covering their tracks. Also, your company may just be the place that conveniently ignores such things.

In both cases, you should just leave as soon as you can. Don’t stay a second longer than you have to.

The second disclaimer is that I do not discount the fact that employees can be toxic too. Sometimes, innocent managers can be accused of being toxic and endure a lot of undeserved harm. I have both seen and experienced this, but that’s a different topic.

And now we arrive at the winner.

Bad Boss Archetype No. 5: The Wimp

Wimps, in this context, are bosses who get pushed over by others and have no energy or courage to stick their necks out for you when needed.

There is nothing worse for your career.

They won’t fight for the rewards you deserve, like promotions or salary increases or more responsibility and resources. They won’t have your back when trouble arrives. For example, in the form of pressure from other stakeholders against your initiatives.

The danger of such managers is that they have the capacity to waste way more of your career time than any other archetype.

Often, The Wimp can be a nice and pleasant person. They may be interested in what you say, be encouraging and kind. And that can lull you into a false sense of stability and support. Nothing is further from the truth.

When you don’t get your promotion again, they will give you a bunch of excuses, tell you how hard they fought for it, but then the budget, their boss, company performance, and so on.

Another reason why the Wimps get the crown is because there is only one thing you can do. You have to leave. Move to a different team or department or leave the company. Nothing else works. Run, and never look back. Your time is the most precious thing you have. Don’t let the Wimps waste it!