Ever had a boss who left you scratching your head in confusion or disbelief? I have. Let me paint you a picture: There I was, hard at work, when suddenly my boss strolled into my office. He took a seat, said absolutely nothing, sipped his coffee, looked at me – just looked, mind you – then stood up and left. No explanation, no conversation – just the silent, caffeine-fueled stare down.

This “Boss Style” visit was one of the many erratic behaviours I witnessed during my time under his leadership, and it left me intrigued, puzzled, and frankly, a little unnerved. It was a mixture of humor and frustration that inspired me to create parts of this list. The list have since that time grown into a full 25 point list.

So, buckle up! We’re about to dive into the wild world of management with these 25 shocking acts of bad boss behaviour. You won’t believe what some leaders think is acceptable – but recognising these signs can help you navigate the murky waters of workplace dynamics.

Here we go – the top 25 on the bad boss list:

1. Making decisions based on gut feelings without considering data or employee input.
   
2. Frequently changing company direction without clear rationale or communication.
   
3. Regularly shifting sales focus, causing confusion and inconsistency in sales strategies.
   
4. Randomly visiting an employee without any apparent purpose or communication, creating an awkward and intimidating environment.
   
5. Micromanaging employees, inhibiting their autonomy and creativity.
   
6. Routinely taking credit for employees’ ideas or achievements.
   
7. Publicly setting unrealistic goals or targets without discussing feasibility with the team.
   
8. Abruptly changing project priorities without explaining why.
   
9. Frequently interrupting employees during their off-hours or vacation time.
   
10. Overloading a specific employee with tasks while others have less work.
    
11. Constantly questioning an employee’s competence in front of others.
    
12. Making promises to employees (like promotions or raises) and then failing to follow through.
    
13. Frequently showing favoritism or unfair treatment towards certain employees.
    
14. Implementing sudden changes in employees’ work schedules without prior notice or discussion.
    
15. Regularly invading employees’ personal space or disregarding their privacy.
    
16. Ignoring employees’ feedback or suggestions.
    
17. Giving vague or unclear instructions and then blaming employees for not meeting expectations.
    
18. Regularly missing or being late to important meetings.
    
19. Publicly criticizing or belittling employees.
    
20. Failing to provide resources or support needed for employees to do their jobs effectively.
    
21. Not acknowledging or appreciating employees’ efforts and achievements.
    
22. Making discriminatory comments or actions based on gender, race, age, etc.
    
23. Dismissing or belittling employees’ personal or health issues.
    
24. Encouraging a culture of competition and hostility among team members.
    
25. Consistently providing negative feedback without offering constructive solutions or guidance.

How many does your current boss tick off?

1-5 Your boss is normal
6-10 Your boss is far from the worst, but slowly getting there
11-15 Leave?
16-20 Go sell crazy someplace else, we’re all stocked up here.
21-25 Holy mother of all cows! A boss like that is like a lightning bolt; you never know when it will strike, so keep your umbrella handy and your rubber boots on, because when it does, it’s going to be a wild ride!

So long and thanks for all the bosses!

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