Become a better leader without being a jerk with this Boston-bred, California-chilled Leadership Advisor, Writer, & Podcast Host
The Jerks
Hello Reader,
The Jerks
There are two types of jerk bosses. Some don’t know they are jerks, and then there are those who relish being jerks.
Sometimes, people ask me, “How do I deal with a boss who’s a jerk.” Of course, the “right” answer is a typical consultant answer; it depends.
There are many factors to consider, like how imbalanced your relationship with them is. They likely have economic leverage over you, but you have the skills to neutralize or combat that.
Are they a nuisance, roll your eyes kind of a jerk, or totalitarian and abusive to the point you cry yourself to sleep at night?
Is it occasional? Usually, they’re fine, but anytime you request PTO, they treat it as a personal affront.
Are they brilliant but lack common civility?
The symptoms are virtually limitless. What you must not do is compromise your integrity and dignity. You must set the example, as hard as it can be, of an acceptable way to be treated by others.
Secondly, if you’re trying to avoid confrontation or passive aggressiveness is your jam, leave a copy of the book, "GIVE A DAMN! How to Lead Better" in the break room, conference room, or — their desk. It’s a small book with pictures and big-sized lettering, perfect for adults who act like children. To be clear, that’s not the book’s intended audience, but it sure can help.
Karl Bimshas | Karl Bimshas Consulting
Become a better leader without being a jerk with this Boston-bred, California-chilled Leadership Advisor, Writer, & Podcast Host
Resources Essay Recap Did you know you can get a conversational recap of the latest Reflections on Leadership essay via YouTube? It's a more off-the-cuff, unrehearsed 7-10 minute take on the weekly essay. Who Says You're Ready to Lead? When Feelings Start Making Leadership Decisions Accountability isn't a Threat Leadership Shouldn't Require People to Guess Leadership Is Discovered, Not Declared Podcast Or you can listen to the Reflections on Leadership Podcast on your platform of choice. 404....
Reflections on Leadership Who Says You’re Ready to Lead? Leadership Drift This Week Who Says You’re Ready to Lead? I recently saw a post about the signs that you’re not ready to lead (yet). It offered a familiar list of skills aspiring leaders should develop: making decisions with incomplete information, accepting and giving difficult feedback, delegating, managing conflict, and overcoming the need for approval. Most of the advice was reasonable, but I disliked the underlying premise. Who...
Reflections on Leadership When Feelings Start Making Leadership Decisions Leadership Drift This Week When Feelings Start Making Leadership Decisions Leadership gets harder when you let what's happening inside you determine what happens around you. You put off a difficult conversation you don't want to have. You aren't sure which decision to make, so you keep gathering information. You worry about how an idea will be received, so you keep refining it. You get frustrated that the same problem...