20 Lessons Learned from Bad Bosses

I’ve been blessed throughout my career to have worked for some great bosses. As I’ve lately been taking a closer look at leadership principles and best practices while urrently participating in a leadership institute, I stumbled across this great post by Michael Hyatt discussing the value of working for a “bad boss” in which he lists 20 random lessons learned from bad bosses:

1. Everyone on the team matters. No one deserves to be treated poorly.
2. Bosses create an emotional climate with their attitudes and behaviors.
3. The higher up you are, the more people “read into” everything you say and do. Stuff gets amplified as it moves downstream.
4. A word of encouragement can literally make someone’s week. Conversely, a harsh word can ruin it.
5. Hire the right people then trust them to do their job.
6. Don’t ever intentionally embarrass people in front of their boss, their peers, or their direct reports.
7. Don’t attack people personally. Instead, focus on their performance.
8. Get both sides of the story before you take action.
9. Tell the truth; then you don’t have to remember what you said.
10. Give people room to fail and don’t rub their noses in it when they do.
11. Be quick to forgive and give the benefit of the doubt.
12. Measure twice, cut once.
13. Don’t ever ask your people to do something you are unwilling to do yourself.
14. Respect other people’s time, especially those under you.
15. Don’t believe all the nice things people say about you.
16. Follow-through on your commitments, even when it is inconvenient or expensive.
17. Don’t be ambitious to get promoted. Instead, focus on serving and doing a great job.
18. Be responsive to everyone at every level. You never know who may be your next boss.
19. Keep confidences. Make no exceptions.
20. Do not complain about your boss to anyone. If you have to complain, then have the integrity to quit.

What other lessons might you add to the list?

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