Yesterday we outlined five signs to watch out for to determine whether you’re working for a toxic boss. Today we’re back with five more red flags to heed.
They micromanage. Toxic bosses don’t trust or empower their staff; instead they tell people how work should be done and signal a constant lack of trust and need to control.
They set unreasonable expectations. Toxic bosses may demand results or set deadlines that are simply unachievable. Their expectations may also be unclear, leading to vague and confusing goals, excessive workloads, and a pervasive sense of uncertainty.
They belittle and demoralize. Toxic bosses “joke” at the expense of others and talk negatively behind people’s backs. They rarely have good things to say about people and constantly seek those who validate their opinions.
They blame others. When issues arise or mistakes are made, toxic bosses point the finger at everyone but themselves, going to great lengths to explain how others are culpable while exonerating themselves.
They’re overconfident. Toxic bosses routinely overestimate their skills and knowledge, leading them to believe that they’re better at their job than they actually are. As a result, they tend to reject feedback on ways they could improve.
