Are you a scary boss?
/One of the greatest weaknesses in leadership is a lack of self-awareness.
As bosses, we go through seasons. The hope is that regardless of the season, we are leaders who are trusted, consistent and intentional.
Walking into every store in America right now, we see scary costumes, scary pumpkin faces and scary decor. What a great opportunity it is to ask ourselves “Am I a scary boss? Am I consistently leading well, regardless of my mood or circumstances?” Awareness comes from pausing and exploring. Let’s do that.
Do you have “scary boss” tendencies? Do you find any of the following statements to be true:
Everyone on my team is a “yes” person (they lack boundaries)
I always find out things after everyone else
I ask for feedback, and everyone says things are always good
I watch my team closely…maybe too closely
If I call my team after hours, they know they’d better answer
A lot of people on my team are stressed out
Failure isn’t an option
Your email’s out of office response is on more than it’s not
Your mood spills into your communication with the team
You raise your voice a lot (a lot = ever)
If you answered “yes” to more than one of the above, you could fall into one of these categories:
Ghost Bosses:
Bosses who consider themselves “visionaries” and therefore aren’t willing to get their hands messy. There is wisdom in delegation and empowering others. It becomes scary though, when leaders are TOO hands-off. It might look like a leader who:
-Doesn’t give their team clear directions and the team lives in fear of doing things wrong
- Never answers their phone/email and isn’t available to help navigate challenges
- Doesn’t like creating systems and org charts, so the team feels like every day is a guessing game
- Isn’t consistent with getting, and giving feedback
A tip on how to not be a Ghost Boss: set up systems that encourage proper communication lines and daily work-flows.
Goblin Bosses:
Goblins are considered shape-shifters. (Creepy). Goblin bosses are inconsistent and temperamental. It might look like a leader who:
Doesn’t receive honest feedback
Is constantly attacked by the idea fairy, and changes the vision/plans frequently
Hands off responsibility, then takes it back…causing frustration with among management
Is avoided by the team because they never know what mood you’ll be in
Tip for not being a Goblin Boss: Plan and maintain consistency. Follow through. And, if you come to work in a bad mood, take some time to shift your mindset, so that you don’t take it out on your people.
Ghouls Bosses:
Ghouls are monsters. Picture the Miranda Priestly character in “Devil Wears Prada,” or the Bobby Pellit character in “Horrible Bosses.” Now you’ve got it? Ghouls might look like a leader who:
Never really know why there’s so much tension on the team (hint: it’s because people are afraid to tell you the truth.)
Stands over team member’s shoulders as they work
Expects team members to answer their calls, regardless of day and time
Is aggressive, or demeaning
Refuses to let their team fail
Tip for not being a Ghoul Boss: Practice calmness, kindness and trust your team to do their job well.
In the season of all things scary, leave that to the haunted houses. The workplace should be a place where people are empowered and challenged, not terrified of their boss. Take some time today to go through the above lists and ask yourself (or others) if any of the items are trends in your office.
All leaders can have scary tendencies. It’s the ones who are humble enough for honest feedback and who are committed to taking action who succeed in leadership.
If you’re a leader who is eager to be healthy and proactive, contact us to see what a coaching plan can do for you.