While you may be thinking that you’re looking for a better job, instead, what you should be looking for is a better boss. You love your job, your chosen profession, but you can’t agree or get along with your current boss, so rather just search for a better one.
Bosses come in different varieties and they’re not perfect, they all have their own deficiencies. They’re placed in managerial roles for a variety of reasons, at times incorrectly, but the fact remains that what they do directly affects your workplace fate.
Managers can range from the exceptional to the very bad. While the majority of bosses are competent and effective, it’s proven that there’s just as many incompetent bosses as there are efficient ones.
So the key becomes to identify, pick and choose what “type” of boss that you don’t want to work for.
Tyrant Bosses
What they do is flex their authority, targeting unsuspecting workers by constantly shaming, criticizing, or humiliating them. They’re on their own ego trip and are wanting full control.
They may of been bullied themselves at one time when younger, so they now abuse their power. Workplace bullying is thought to of reached epidemic proportions, the most common being managerial abuse.
Lazy Bosses
They do nothing, they routinely pass the buck to others and constantly get away with it. They’re incompetent, they show little to no initiative, while avoiding making decisions, allowing their department to run itself.
This perhaps the most common type of boss as they’re terrified to decide anything, or they can’t be bothered to. They constantly neglect their managerial duties, rarely participate in discussions, literally getting nothing done.
Dysfunctional Bosses
They’re considered toxic because of their dysfunctional destructive behavior, which are their own personal characteristics which bleeds into the workplace. Because of their managerial duties, their personality seeps into those who they manage.
These bosses are completely selfish, at times narcissistic, and driven by their ego, leaving their department or company worse off.
Incompetent Bosses
This also a large category as these bosses lack the basic managerial and leadership skills which are needed, and as a result, constantly make the wrong or poor decisions while alienating their workers.
It’s thought that at least two-thirds of all managers fall into this category, this primarily because of the companies’ neglect to give the proper attention that it needs to properly qualify and appoint them.
How To Find A Better Boss
Recognize The Red Flags
Recognize certain patterns during the interview process as it’s a preview to how the company operates. Does the interviewer appear anxious or nervous, asking you irrelevant questions while practically handing you the job.
Perhaps this is how you accepted your prior position, as you were relieved to just get the work. But what you see are the same “red flags,” indicating that the workplace environment is completely stressful and unorganized.
There’s no obvious leadership, structure, or mentoring, while having an extremely high employee turnover rate.
Check The Company’s And Managers References
What the company wants is stellar references from you, so shouldn’t you be wanting the same from them. Check LinkedIn along with other social media sites as well as with industry news sources for anything on the company, or the boss you will be working for.
Decide what you’re looking for in your ideal job, and then see if your criteria fits into the companies objectives or mission statement.
Is There Integrity And Professionalism
The interviewer is a reflection of how the company operates, so do they inquire too deeply about irrelevant activities. Although the interviewer may be crafting the process by getting an inkling about your personal life, but if the questions goes too far or too deep, then beware.
The interviewer may just be fishing to see how much time that you have on your hands, time that you could devote to working overtime, weekends, which cuts into your spare or family time.
So be as direct and assertive as possible and know that you’re also able to steer the interview process where you’re wanting it to go. Be aware of all the discriminatory or exploratory questions which are irrelevant.
Note How The Interviewer Communicates And Listens
Do they appear disinterested or distracted, do they answer your questions completely and concisely, or do they hesitate. Do they bother to ask you about your long-term or career path, or just appear to focus on the short-term.
Realize to find the ideal work environment, job interviews should be a two-way street, and the process should give you the opportunity to see if you want to work for them, if you could work in their culture.
Ask About Their Management Style
Decide beforehand what type of traits you’re looking for in a boss. Is mentoring, organization, delegation desired. Are you looking for a hands-off type giving you more independence.
Does the boss talk too much, is the ego too big, or are they too quiet. Are they available or always away. Who do you report to. Try getting a feeling of the office environment before accepting the job.
Talk With Your Potential New Co-workers
Try to meet with your prospective co-workers beforehand if possible, so that you can get a general vibe on what the work environment is like.
Also search for former employees on LinkedIn or other networking sites, who should be able to give you a more candid and direct assessment. Realize that no job is perfect, so remain optimistic.
What you want is to avoid getting into another similar work situation which doesn’t fit. So write down all of your priorities. Be prepared so that you can interview the interviewer. Keep in mind that you’re not just looking for new work, but also searching for a better boss.