100 Worst Bosses: An Animal of a Book

100-Worst-Bosses-Cover-150Most managers consider themselves good leaders, so I’m sure you consider yourself a good boss. You manage your employees. You delegate responsibilities. And, you make sure projects are completed and deadlines are met. But, have you ever wondered how your employees view you?

In the book 100 Worst Bosses, author Jim Stovall features employees who consider their bosses, or former bosses, some of the worst. From threatening employees with guns or baseball bats to sharing explicit personal information with everyone, these bosses would make most leaders pat themselves on the back and feel like their employees should be grateful for how good they have it. But, if you look a little deeper into these stories, you can find at least one nugget of wisdom to apply to your leadership style, no matter how honed your management skills are.

By comparing certain leadership personalities to specific animals, Stovall characterizes each type of boss with their common negative attributes. For instance, a tiger boss is ruthless, dominates everyone around them, and is always on the hunt. The tiger boss allows his positive skills of drive, determination, and tenacity to run wild and terrorizes his employees. The ostrich boss takes her need to make sure everyone is happy to a whole other level. She chooses to remain ignorant of information, ignore communication, and flee from conflict.

In this book, you learn that just as every animal has its place in the animal kingdom, every leadership style has its place in the office. For every leadership personality, you can use your traits to be a great boss – or let nature take its course and end up in a book like this. That’s why it’s your responsibility to ensure you don’t turn your workplace into a jungle and that you tame your leadership instinct. If you’re a tiger, use your drive and determination to motivate, not scare, your team to reach their goal. And, if you’re an ostrich, allow your desire for peace to prompt you to manage conflict and negotiate compromises for the sake of the entire team.

100 Worst Bosses shows how humorous, and sometimes scary, a bad boss can be. It provides the chance to see all boss types, and perhaps even yourself, through the eyes of employees. And, it’s a great reminder to make sure you’ve got your leadership instinct under control so your employees don’t want to lock you in a zoo. For more information on 100 Worst Bosses and a complimentary training program, visit MyLeadershipInstinct.com.

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