What Separates a Best Boss from a Worst Boss?
In very simple terms, those leaders rated as a “Best Boss” were servant leaders focused primarily on the well-being of others while those leaders rated as a “Worst Boss” were focused primarily on themselves.
Well da…… This is not any great revelation or new news. My conclusion is supported by some very interesting group surveys I conducted during my 23 years a VPHR for a multi-billion-dollar corporation. I wrote and taught a training class many times entitled “Leadership that Brings Out the Best in People.” One of the class learning exercises asked the participants to evaluate the differences between the “Best Boss” and the “Worst Boss” they had ever worked for. (no names were ever mentioned to protect the innocent or guilty). The class participants were given a list of 38 paired characteristics (shown below) and half the class evaluated their Best Boss and the other half the class evaluated their Worst Boss. The evaluation required estimating what percent of the time the Best Boss demonstrated the positive characteristic on the left side of the page and the same for the Worst Boss. For example, in #1 below a Best Boss might be seen as “Fair” 95% of the time and the Worst Boss might be seen as “Fair” only 65% of the time.
# (+) Traits (-) Traits
1. Fair Unfair
2. Friendly Unfriendly
3. Easy-going Uptight
4. Patient Impatient
5. Supportive Antagonistic
6. Helpful Hurtful
7. Humble Proud/cocky
8. Happy Sad/sorrowful
9. Fun Boring
10. Upbeat Downbeat
11. Considerate Inconsiderate
12. Compassionate Uncaring
13. Consistent Inconsistent
14. Secure Insecure
15. Cooperative Uncooperative
16. Mature Immature
17. Professional Unprofessional
18. Open-minded Narrow-minded
19. Flexible Rigid
20. Approving Disapproving
21. Accepting Judgmental
22. Trusting Distrustful
23. Truthful Liar
24. Honest Dishonest
25. Integrity Lack of integrity
26. Responsible Irresponsible
27. Respectful Disrespectful
28. Generous Selfish
29. Optimistic Pessimistic
30. Kind Unkind
31. Gentle Harsh
32. Congenial Rude
33. Caring Uncaring
34. Pleasant Unpleasant
35. Calm Emotional
36. Positive Negative
37. Joyful Sorrowful
38. Hopeful Doubtful
The participants calculated the average of percentages the Best Boss demonstrated the good traits on the left-side column. Then participants took the average of the percentages the Worst Boss demonstrated the positive traits on the left side of the list. (Note: for you research statisticians out there, I know this is not a statistically valid methodology, but go with me anyway)
What we found was that the Best Bosses demonstrated the positive traits between 80-95% of the time as perceived by the people they supervised. The Worst Bosses only demonstrated the positive traits in the left column 30-60% of the time.
Next, I went around the class and asked a more qualitative question. “Based on these lists and your ratings, what are the key traits that jump out for Best Bosses and then for Worst Bosses. Shown below are the traits most commonly mentioned in all the classes I taught:
Best Boss Worst Boss
Supportive, caring Unfair
Fair Cocky, egotistical
Honest, integrity Uncaring
Consistent Narrow-minded
Calm Liar, not trustworthy
Balanced Harsh
Respectful Emotional
Inconsistent
Not trusting
After a group discussion of these traits describing the Best Boss and Worst Boss, it became very clear the Best Bosses were much more externally focused on the needs of other people rather than on themselves. The Worst Bosses were usually very self-centered and self-absorbed. I was surprised at how many people blatantly called their Worst Boss a “liar” without pulling any punches.
In this post it is easy to see that a really good boss should be demonstrating the positive traits in the left column of the two lists above.
Sometimes in interviews I have asked this question: “If you won a $20,000,000 lottery and had $10,000,00 after tax, what are the first three things you would do?” If most of the first actions were for the benefit of others, I would form the initial opinion they were externally focused. If most of the first actions were for self-benefit, I would form the initial opinion they were self-focused. I then followed up by asking probing questions to validate my initial opinion.
What would you do first if you won that much money?
If you supervise or lead others, are you someone’s Best Boss or Worst Boss, or in-between? What can you do to be better? Look at the left side of the two lists above and get after it.
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Really good to know. Thanks for sharing your experience.