Do Bad Bosses Breed Bad Bosses?

Have you ever wondered where bad bosses come from? Were they dropped out of a spaceship in the middle of the night or were they brainwashed and conditioned by other bad bosses to continue bad behavior? According to the Association for Psychological Science (2006), the unconscious transmission of actions or emotions from one individual to another is possible. In other words, if someone observes a certain behavior that person is susceptible to behave in the same manner.

Bad bosses come in all shapes and sizes. The following is a list of the top 5 characteristics that make up bad bosses and how you can deal with their behavior.

1. Non-Communicative
Being able to communicate is essential in any setting. Bad bosses like to withhold information from their employees or expect their employees to be mind readers and already know what they’re supposed to know.

How to deal with it: If you work with someone who does not like to share information or it seems as you are left in the dark, ask questions. Get the individual to talk to you by you talking to them. Don’t wait around the water cooler, listening to the rumor mill. Be proactive and get a dialogue established with your boss.

2. “Rules with an iron fist.”Some bad bosses believe that what they say goes and there is no room for negotiation. They are close-minded and do not believe in change or that there is a better way to do things.

How to deal with it: These types of managers believe in facts and statistics. Show them the benefits to changing or revising a procedure and explain how the company and your department will be more productive. If possible submit the plan in writing.

3. Unorganized.
So your boss approaches you at 4:50 p.m. and tells you that he needs a report by 10 a.m. tomorrow for a meeting at 10:30 a.m. and you don’t arrive until 9 a.m. This is not a simple report and you will probably need to come in early to have it completed on time. This is frustrating because you have other projects you need to accomplish and you don’t like working last minute.

How to deal with it: If you keep your bosses calendar, you can ask him ahead of time if he needs anything in particular for the meeting or if you know the agenda you can suggest information your boss can take to the meeting and have it prepared. If this occurs frequently and you are unaware of your bosses calendar, then during your next staff meeting or performance review politely express your concern that you would prefer to receive tasks and projects ahead of time so that documents can be fully prepared and reviewed before being presented to a group, especially upper management. Again, explain the benefits to requesting projects ahead of time and put it in writing. Sometimes emergencies occur and can’t be helped so determine how frequently your boss makes these requests and make necessary suggestions on how you and he can be more productive and efficient.


4. Lack of trust.
These are the micromanagers; they don’t trust their employees to do the job or that the task will be done properly. These kinds of managers want proof that you will do the job effectively.

How to deal with it: In this situation you must prove that you are capable of completing the task and don’t need someone standing over your shoulder. As tasks or projects are assigned, give 110% attention, check and double check for accuracy. Remember micromanagers seek out “micromistakes,” so if there is a comma or number out of place or missing, you will have to start over in establishing trust.

5. Opposed/resistant to the professional development of their employees.
Have you ever asked your supervisor to pay for a training or workshop that would enhance your professional or personal development only to get rejected saying there just wasn’t enough money in the budget?

How to deal with it: Provide written materials and information about the training or workshop you wish to attend. Include how the company and your department will benefit by investing in you – their most valuable asset. If the manager insists that the budget is tight, suggest that you would pay half of the cost; this will show the manager that you are willing to invest in yourself. If that doesn’t work, think about paying for the training out of your own pocket and then show your boss how effective and productive you are afterwards by using what you learned. Then the next time you wish to attend a training, they may more open to paying the costs for you attend because they will know how beneficial the last training was for the you and the company.


We know that bad bosses don’t miraculously drop out of the sky and they weren’t born to be bad – they were made. Unfortunately, behavior can be contagious (good and bad) and most times we don’t realize we have “inherited” such behavior. The best philosophy to live by is, “treat others as you would like to be treated.”




Wang, S. (2006). Contagious behavior. Association for Psychological Science. Retrieved February 2, 2010 from http://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/getArticle.cfm?id=1931

Are you Ga Ga For Google?

Google is an office professional’s best friend. I remember the days when you could use Google as a search engine only. Now Google can help you do things like……

Google Docs – Create and share your online documents, presentations and spreadsheets
Google Voice- Don’t have time to listen to voicemails? Have them transcribed and delivered to your Google account and read them online. Yes, you can listen to voicemails as well. Note: you must receive an invitation from Google or someone who already has this FREE service. If you want more information, let me know by posting a comment to this article.
Google Maps – Go anywhere in the world from your office! View buildings in 3D, satellite imagery, maps, and terrain. I saw my house!
Google Desktop – Personalize your desktop with some fun and helpful widgets that get you through the day (ie. weather, jokes, news, etc.)
GOOG-411 –Find and get phone numbers, addresses, etc for businesses
iGoogle – personalize your homepage with things you can use (games, weather, horoscopes, tips for the day, to do lists, calendar, and for you sports fans get updates of scores from your favorite sports games).
Google Health – organize your medical records, prescriptions, etc. online

Don't have time to look at your computer, get Google on your cellphone! By the way, don’t forget to use Google as a search engine…these services are just the tip of the iceberg. Want more got to http://www.google.com/options/. Google has revolutionized the internet; I think that Google is going to be up there with Twitter, the term will be called "Googling." I even look forward to the different holiday themes that the word ‘Google’ will have on the search engine page. Are you Googling?

A New Resolution for the New Year

Each New Year’s Eve the same resolutions are made, “I will go on a diet.” “I will find a new job.” “I will save some money.” But what happens at the end of the year? We have gained more weight than we lost or didn’t loose any at all, we are still in the same job, or we are broke! According to Proactive Change, research shows that 46% of resolutions that are made at the beginning of the year are maintained after 6 months into the year. New Year’s resolutions should be regarded as goals. Below are some ways to set “goalsolutions” and how you will go about achieving them by December 31.

1. Start small.
If you want to loose 20 pounds, set small goals like change your eating habits, park farther from the store entrance, or reduce your serving portions. If you want to find a new job, first set the goal of updating your resume. Do you need to review interview techniques? Small building blocks will create large impacts on your goal setting.

2. Be consistent.
So many of us decide in February that since we haven’t accomplished the goal set on January 1, it is hopeless, be consistent and persistent and refer back to your goals often. If something isn’t working, decide what other options are available, does your goal need a sub-goal?

3. Set goals that are manageable and attainable.
Using the weight loss example because it is so popular, it is not realistic or healthy to drastically change eating habits and join a health club and workout like a vigilante and expect to loose 20 pounds in 2 months. This is where the goal needs a sub-goal…..respectfully 2 pounds per month is doable so you would be looking to loose weight in 10 months.

4. Re-evaluate your goals often.
Don’t wait until October and notice that your goals haven’t been met. Write your goals down and refer back to them often; you may have to change your focus or create a new sub-goal.

Need help in organizing your “goalsolutions” and ideas? Visit http://www.goalenforcer.com/ for a free planning software download that will electronically organize and map your goals.

Proactive Change. (2009). Research: Statistics on New Year’s resolutions. http://www.proactivechange.com/resolutions/statistics.htm

Take the “Jingle” out of Holiday Stress

Are you planning the holiday party in your office? Don’t know what to get your boss or co-workers for the staff grab bag? Or are you stressed just thinking about the holidays? These events can cause undue stress because the pressure is on for the event to be as successful, the gift to be appreciated, or even for you to have some quality relaxation time. Here are a few ways to ‘deck the halls’ and have a worry free holiday.


1. Don’t go it alone.
Form a committee, then within the committee form subcommittees for activities throughout the event. If you are planning the holiday party, there will be food, entertainment, gift giveaways, and possible employee awards and recognition. Have a sub-committee for the catering/venue (if the event is not going to be held at the company), another sub-committee would be for entertainment. I know a company that has each department come up with a holiday routine as entertainment. So, sub-committees would be helpful to ease some of the stress and incorporate organization and proper planning for the holiday party.

2. Have FUN!
Yes, this is a party for the company and possibly clients and/or customers will be invited so your goal is for it to be successful, remember to have FUN; have a good time in preparing and planning the event! This is a chance for you and your committee to be creative. Brainstorm ideas and get the creative juices flowing!

3. Use your days off during the holidays to relax.
Use your off to your advantage. Take a min-vacation or have a “stay-cation.” If you can’t travel, stay home and rest, relax, and rejuvenate. Make time for yourself! Spend an hour or two during the day doing what you like. Do you like to shop for bargains? Read a good book. Catch up on episodes of soap operas. Whatever relaxes you - go for it! So that means refrain from checking email, or other tasks that are work related, it the holidays...enjoy!

4. Keep gift giving simple.
Many companies have grab bags or an exchange of gifts during the holiday season. Some will even put a limit on how much to spend. Depending on the amount, gift cards are a great choice. They are easy, no lengthy shopping is involved like what does this person like, what is his or her favorite color, or what size is this person. If the dollar limit if $5, a gift card to the local coffee shop is appropriate. Even if the recipient doesn’t drink coffee, there are other items that can be purchased such as smoothies, sweet snacks, or teas.

These are just a few ways to save yourself some holiday anguish! Be thankful, be safe, and have a happy holiday season!

What Are You Thankful For?

The holidays are quickly approaching and this is the time of year when we reflect on our successes and goals and also begin thinking about what we can do to reach the next level the following year. Admittedly, this year has been challenging- economically and environmentally. Some have lost jobs, didn’t get promotions or pay raises, or lost funding due to employer budget cuts. If you have been a victim to any
or all of the above, you’re wondering, ‘what do I have to be thankful for?’
Here are a few things to think about, can you relate?

1. I am thankful that I have my “workplace mental health”.
We all know how difficult it can be to maintain a realm of sanity in the workplace when the phone is constantly ringing, clients are popping in and out of the office, a project is due, and you have a supervisor who is behaving like a ‘helicopter mom.’ In order to maintain workplace mental health(yes, workplace mental health- home mental health is a totally different subject) Some ways to maintain workplace
mental health are: take breaks, meditate, and get organized in order to stay productive. Your day will go smoother, you will be more focused, and your boss will hover away (hopefully)!

2. I am thankful for the relationships I have created through my membership with professional organizations.

I have had the pleasure of meeting some dynamic individuals who have made an influence on my life personally and professionally. Do you need someone to talk to during the day when you are stressed? Or do you have a question, call a member! Believe me, it is the best form of release therapy! My advice is to grab a member and
become a mentor or get mentored! Tap into each others brains.

3. I am thankful for the new skills I have received and the old skills I have improved.
I have attended many seminars and workshops which have given me new insights. So you can’t attend every workshop or seminar, surf the internet, there are many FREE programs available online at sites like HP Learning Center and Microsoft. Not only are you improving your skills and adding to your resume, you are making
yourself more indispensable and an asset to your company or the next one. The other alternative to the internet is - pick up a book! My favorites are the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey, Messages: The Communications Skills Book by Dr. Matthew McKay, and Become an Inner Circle Assistant by Joan Burge.

4. I am thankful for the honors and acknowledgments I have received this year.
This was a very busy year for me. Finally, after 16 years, I received a Bachelors Degree in Psychology. Shortly thereafter, I received the IAAP Member of Excellence and the CAP certification. My philosophy is better late than never! If you’re like me, once you reach a goal there is a sense of fulfillment and completion (or at least until the next goal is reached). So, set a goal for an achievement, the feeling of accomplishment is as blissful as receiving the award.

So what are you thankful for? Post your comment.

Elevate Your Elevator Speech

Imagine being in an elevator with someone you would really like to get to know and whom you would like to know about you. Depending on what floor you are traveling to, your journey will be short so your introduction should be the same- short and too the point.

The term elevator speech is used when giving someone information about you because just as if you were in elevator, you would only have a minute to give pertinent information about yourself- the length of time you would be in an elevator.

Good elevator speeches contain the following:

 Your name and job title
 The company you work for
 What your company does
 Your latest achievement or accolade whether personal or professional.
 An exchange of business cards

Here’s an example from someone who is employed as a sales representative from a company that sells crystal products.

Hi, my name is Kim Harwood. I work for Crystal Palace a company that sells prime crystal products. Here is my business card. I would be more than happy to assist you in your needs to make purchases. We recently were awarded Business of the Year by Businessweek.

Short, sweet, and to the point! Try to exchange business cards so that you can follow-up with the person you met at a later date. This is a great way to build your network, improve your communication skills, and even build relationships that would later produce sales for your company.

Guest Blogger: David B. Wright, Author

So You've Got the Job Interview - Now What?

You've sent out dozens, or maybe even hundreds, of resumes and cover letters. You've posted your resume on all the top job boards plus the various industry-focused and niche job sites related to your type of work. You've been networking your little tail off. And you've been following all the best career advice and job search tips you've read, heard, learned, and developed. This morning the phone rang - you've got an interview! And better yet, it's for a dream job in an exciting company!

Now what? Obviously you really want the job, and to get this job, you've got to really shine in the interview. Your resume & cover letter have done their jobs, and have piqued the employer's interest - now your job is to make it as easy as possible for them to decide to offer you the job. And you know, deep inside, that the plain old boring Question & Answer interview just isn't going to work well enough - this is a great opportunity for you, and you've got to really stand out.

Part of the good news is that a lot of the other candidates for the job will probably use the same old boring approach to the job interview that they've read about in the same old books, and they're fully prepared to answer such esoteric but oh-so-crucial questions as, "if you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be?" Of course, you're going to take a different approach. Though you'll be prepared to answer questions, you'll have plenty of your own questions to ask, based on the research you've already done about that particular company, their competitors, and industry trends.

Here are some ideas that can really make your first interview different and stand out from the typical interview. They take a bit of extra work and preparation, but then again doesn’t exceptional performance require a little something extra? If you should choose to use one of these methods, and use it regularly in interviews, you may find portions that you can ‘recycle’ with different companies, but of course some degree of customization will be required. Then again, using this method may result in you not having to use it very many times as it has been known to lead to job offers in a very short time.

Treat the interview as your first day on the job – come in prepared to show what you can do. If you are interviewing for a sales position, prepare a sales presentation targeting one of their clients or prospects; for marketing come up with a marketing plan for them. If it is a project management position, prepare a project status review presentation or the like…you get the idea.

Solve a real problem that you would be expected to face on the job – Ask the hiring manager to spell out a real problem that she would want you to handle if you were hired, then show how you would solve the problem. Even if the solution you give isn’t perfect, it really helps you stand out because you’re going out on a limb to prove your abilities, not just saying what you can do without backing it up.

Give a presentation on what benefits you bring to the company - Especially in a group interview setting, this can be a good way to showcase your presentation skills – something often difficult to really do in a traditional interview. To prepare this, think in detail about how you can really contribute to the organization. Can you bring in new business, improve operating efficiency, reduce costs, help build the strategy that will form the company’s future? Help them better leverage partners and suppliers? More effectively analyze information that can be used to develop new product or service offerings? Help them attract and retain top talent? Protect their investment in physical or data assets? A large part of this depends on the role you are looking for, but don’t limit your thinking to a job description. Of course you can use the job description as a framework. Most of the benefits you offer to bring to the company should be focused on the requirements of the job for which you’re applying.

Structure: This is like an elaborate version of your résumé, perhaps most easily done in
PowerPoint. It, like many other presentations, is used for 2 main purposes – to inform and to sell. You are informing the company about yourself, your background, your skills, and so while proving to them that you can give a presentation or conduct a business meeting. The selling part is where you are selling yourself – you need to show them why they should invest in you and what sort of return they can expect on that investment. In it, you can highlight key accomplishments, high-profile clients or projects, significant results, pretty much anything you like that would help you stand out to the hiring committee.

Come in with an action plan for the first few months on the job. Even if it doesn’t match up exactly with the company’s plans for this position, it makes an impact and can really showcase the value you can bring to an organization. Frankly, most candidates for a job don’t do this, so it can really set you apart by showing that you’ve really put thought and effort into planning for your meeting with this company. This method is particularly effective for leadership / management positions.

With any of these techniques, of course you want to prepare the interviewer at the beginning of the meeting. And make sure it fits the time schedule you have. You don’t want to have to rush through it too much – just a few high-impact slides should do the trick. And of course you don’t want to completely control the meeting, or otherwise disregard the other person’s agenda.

At the beginning of the interview, you could say something like, “I’d like to cover a few things in our discussion today. After going through any initial questions we have for each other, I’ve put together an action plan for what I feel I can contribute during my first few months. I understand this may not be 100% reflective of all of the requirements of this position but wanted to give you an idea of what I can offer ABC Company should we reach an agreement for me to join your team.”
Using an approach like this can be very effective and will certainly set you apart from other candidates that are using the same old boring approach they’ve always used.

To your success,
David B. Wright
Author, Get A Job! Your Guide to Making Successful Career Moves



David B. Wright
Author, Get A Job! Your Guide to Making Successful Career Moves
http://www.GetAJobBook.com
Chief Marketing Officer, W3 Group
SEO (Search Engine Optimization), Local Search, Internet Marketing
"We Help You WIN on the Web."
208-545-1241 voice mail / efax
The Job Search Strategist blog
Get A Job! Job Board