Toxic bosses exist, and almost every worker has experienced one in their professional life. Differentiating between bad and good bosses can be difficult if someone has not interacted with them since they share similar qualities. Like good bosses, toxic ones can be charismatic, learned, attractive, and charming (Change Geek, 2019). However, toxic leaders have unique qualities that set them aside, such as always having favorites and micromanaging others.
After watching the video clips, I realized I had experienced the qualities of a toxic boss. A close friend of mine narrated an awful encounter with a bad boss in their workplace. The said person was my friend’s supervisor and had a horrendous know-it-all attitude. He never at any point admitted to their shortcomings or mistakes. The boss could not consider the suggestion or recommendation of the junior staff even if they were unquestionably effective or practical. In the worst scenarios, the boss would blame the workers for their mistakes (Mind Bee, 2020). The results were reduced morale, lack of motivation, and undermined job satisfaction, severely affecting employee performance.
As the toxicity of the boss persisted, my friend and his colleagues had to devise ways to survive the unfavorable work environment. Firstly, they understood that their jobs were at stake and could disappear anytime. Therefore, they prepared for an exit strategy by finding alternative sources of income just in case the supervisor decided to set them up for sacking. Secondly, the group under the toxic supervisor decided to work professionally and control their emotions. They understood that their leader would provoke them anytime, which could lead to conflicts and unnecessary problems. Adopting these strategies was crucial in ensuring their jobs survived and improved performance.
References
Change Geek. (2019). How to survive toxic bosses [Video]. YouTube. Web.
Mind Bee. (2020). 8 signs you have a toxic boss or workplace [Video]. YouTube. Web.