Is dealing with a bad boss on the rise? Cut-backs on resources, increased outsourcing, and layoffs create pressure to survive and in turn, manage effectively. This begs the question—does the changing economic environment push people managers into ineffective behavioral patterns just to cope with increased demands? While there is no simple answer, in the meantime, employees do the best they can and bosses remain responsible for making sure their teams produce results.
Teams are forced to change their ways of working. All tasks become important because one slipped release date or minor reporting error is perceived as a potential trigger to disaster. The weight of juggling priorities falls on supervisors and managers. Nobody wants to have the finger pointed at them for overlooking something or be accused of not doing enough to help the business.
As bosses are ultimately accountable for outcomes, the pressure and stress to maintain break-even levels gets fierce. For managers who are inexperienced or need a lot of control, characteristics of a bad boss personality can emerge. Depending on the person, some managers withdraw because they don’t know what to do; others become bullies or micro-managers because they think that’s the only way to keep everything, and everyone, in check. The behaviors boil over and employee productivity and job satisfaction suffers.
The concern is how much damage will increased bad boss behavior factor into retention issues when the economy stabilizes? What will the talent landscape look like and what will the lessons learned be in terms of crisis management and leadership? Nobody can say for certain what the fallout will be. In the meantime, the best thing managers and employees can do is to keep the lines of communication open at all times, be transparent with information, and use smart planning as the best ways to ensure people and business needs remain aligned.
Tony Deblauwe, founder of HR4Change, is a workplace expert with an extensive background in organizational design, human resources management, leadership, and talent development. A certified coach, Tony engages business leaders by offering solutions that strike the right balance of strategic vision, change management, and operational excellence. Tony provides individuals with comprehensive career planning, small business development, and life coaching. Tony is the author of Tangling with Tyrants: Managing the Balance of Power at Work, a guide that shows employees how to communicate effectively with difficult bosses. Learn more about Tony by visiting www.hr4change.com.
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