How often have you been employed with a company where you loved the work, but the management sucked?
When I asked this question most of my friends, colleagues, and acquaintances, all said they experienced it in almost every job. So, it's clear that people don't leave bad jobs they leave bad bosses. People quit their jobs for a multitude of reasons, but often the decision is tied to demanding bosses, unreasonable deadlines, and a feeling that the situation will never get better. When one bad day at work becomes a pattern, it may be a sign that the underlying problem is the job itself, and there is no longer anything to be gained by staying. The great part when people leave their jobs is they end up in better positions where their skills and talents are appreciated. Many people may want to leave bad bosses, but they may be dependent on salaries to help address personal issues at home.
Whether you believe it or not, often a person's gut feeling may lead them toward the exit sign long before they consider submitting their letter of resignation. Have you ever felt that way? Recently, a colleague accepted a fantastic-sounding position with lots of promising benefits. After one week, their inner voice revealed that it was all a lie. When they approached their boss for clarity and guidance, they were blamed for all the things never shared to be successful. Struggling to try to make a difference, they continued for several more weeks before realising the truth. Things would never get better under bad leadership and management. So, they submitted they resigned from the position after 7 weeks. Once a person decides to eliminate workforce stress, life gets better overnight.
A recent survey conducted by Businesswire reveals that 82% of workers across 10 industries say they would leave their companies due to their manager’s behaviour.
Last year, 4 million people quit their jobs in July, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Companies reported a record-breaking high of 10.9 million open positions. What could cause such a great resignation?
So, are you thinking about quitting your job? Here are a few tell-tale signs that you may be ready to leave your job:
Being Undervalued. The pay gap, even today in 2022, continues to be an issue for women, more specifically for Black, Indigenous, and other women of colour.
Workplace Burnout. This occurs when a boss may never be available when you need them but expects you to be available 24/7 and there is little tolerance for taking a vacation, sick leave, or any time off.
Physical Stress. Some of the warning signs of stress on a job include sleepless nights, muscle aches, stomach pains and bloating, and other physical symptoms brought on by stress. This may be a toxic work environment that's unhealthy. Most employees struggle to cope with unhealthy work conditions to survive financially.
Poor Communication Skills. Many CEOs, Managers, and Bosses lack the skills to work with their teams of professional employees. Many have no idea what or how work is being done. They often remind me of a dictatorship attitude of just doing what I tell you to do, as opposed to listening to other suggestions or strategies that may lead to more positive outcomes.
Verbal Abuse. This occurs often when a boss or manager feels they can talk down or humiliate a staff member in front of others, especially when they know the staff person may need their job and will do anything to keep working.
Over the years I have wondered how so many people with narcissistic personalities seem to rise to the top of an organisation with the goal of abusing employees. A narcissistic personality disorder is when someone has an inflated sense of self-importance. Although the disorder is usually found in men, don't be fooled, women can have the same disorder, and often worse than men. Today, so many monsters are lifting their heads and taking over organisations. A good example today is watching Elon Musk, a wealthy person who purchased Twitter. Walking into a successful business, the first thing he does is start to terminate staff, although it's unclear if he even understands what employees have been doing to make the company a success. Today he is trying to hire them all back. What would you do if you were a Twitter employee today, would you return to your job after being wrongfully terminated?
According to an article from Mobile Monkey, there are 4 types of bad bosses that you may identify from your work experience. They include:
Marionette Boss or a Dummy Boss as I like to call them. These managers are mere puppets who follow orders of the higher boss. They tend to exude no loyalty to their employees and never stands up for them.
King Kong Boss. This type of managers possesses a superiority complex and likes to draw the distinction between management and staff. It is dreadful to work under a manager who is more worried about pushing their weight around than building relationships.
Superman or Superwoman Boss. They think the organization revolves around them. Some start behaving like they are the owners of the company. This trap includes making all the decisions solo, ignoring feedback, and taking the credit.
Taskmaster Boss. Their sole focus is on the bottom line. Continuously drilling employees is a sure way that makes them happy at work. Micromanagement suffocates, demoralises and kills creativity.
When starting a new job, it's a good idea to create a list of what you are looking for in a new boss or a work environment. Most people can identify almost immediately if their new workplace will meet their needs. Usually I develop a list of what makes a great boss that has helped me over the years. Often, I share with friends and colleagues the 60-day rule, by that time you will know if you need pull up the stakes to find a new position elsewhere. You may not need that much time to read the writing on the invisible wall. In my opinion, a good boss:
Communicates clear vision
Connects this vision to everyday tasks
Sets clear performance expectations
Provides consistent feedback and coaching
Cares about their employees
Shares personal information
Makes work fun
Fosters team development
Values employee perspectives
Rewards good performance
So, what's next for you and what will you do differently on your new job? It's not just about making lots of money, it's also about being happy in your life.
Promotions West is a full-service strategic communications consulting group specializing in public relations, health promotions, community engagement, public outreach, social marketing, graphic design, campaign development, strategic planning, photography, and training.
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