6 of the scariest types of bosses
Miranda Priestly: I don’t understand why it’s so difficult to confirm an appointment.
Emily: I know. I’m so sorry, Miranda. I actually did confirm last night.
Miranda Priestly: Details of your incompetence do not interest me.
The above is a line from the remarkable film The Devil Wears Prada, based on the book of the same name. Miranda Priestly – based on Vogue Editor Anna Wintour – is one of the scariest bosses to ever grace the page and screen. Does she yell? No. Does she pound her fists? Absolutely not! She is a quiet talker and it is one of the scariest things you will ever see.
We all have different kinds of bosses; some good, some bad and some super scary. Here are a few stereotypes that have sent chills down the spines of us all:
The bully
This is the boss that makes jokes at your expense and seems to think your middle name is scape-goat. Or perhaps they just tend to give you the silent treatment, gives you mean stares or lie about your performance.
How to deal: There are a few things you can do. Perhaps your boss is under a lot of stress. See what you can do to help. Talk to your co-workers and see if they also feel the same way. If all else fails, contact Human Resources.
The micromanager
This is the boss that is constantly looking over your shoulder to check every little thing you do, even when it is the simplest of tasks. You feel like you have a babysitter instead of a boss and it doesn’t feel good.
How to deal: This is really about them and not you. Try to give them as much information as possible about what you are doing before they even ask. Have a clear discussion about which decisions you can make on your own and which ones you want to consult him or her on. Don’t keep anything from this person or it will just make things worse.
The one who gives way too many speeches
This is your Michael Scott type of boss. He or she wants to feel that they have inspired their team every-day, and sometimes making three speeches a day seems to be the only way to accomplish that.
How to deal: This is certainly not the worst situation to be in, unless they have no skills to back up these lofty speeches they are making. But a couple of speeches with ship metaphors aren’t going to kill you.
The passive aggressive boss
This is one of the worst as often these types of managers try to act like your friend one minute and then leave you with a huge work mess to clean up the next. They tell you to go home, and then write emails asking why you haven’t done X, Y, and Z.
How to deal: Try to have a discussion where you clarify exactly what he or she expects of you and remind them that sometimes their communication isn’t clear.
The crazy boss
This is the type of person that you can’t believe hasn’t been committed yet. How did this person hold down a job, much less become a manager of human beings? They are happy, they are sad, they change their minds all the time and they are completely unpredictable. Think Jennifer Aniston in Horrible Bosses.
How to deal: Good luck.
The idiot
This person is usually super-nice and does seem to care about you, but you aren’t sure if they are able to even spell their name. They are completely useless.
How to deal: Try to help your boss but keep doing your job as well as can be and hopefully someone will notice who has the talent.
