| Occasionally, there are those who are lucky enough to never experience working for someone. As for the less fortunate, they soon discover that bosses come in a wide variety of attitudes and personalities. While some are friendly and easy to get along with, one must beware of a few types that aren't so simple to work for. |
| The 'controlling' boss is one to watch out for. He is the one who is always standing over the employee's shoulder, watching her every move. No one will waste valuable time as long as he's around. He takes great pride in his authority and is not about to share it with anyone. The controlling boss does not need opinions or advice. Neither does he need to ask his employees to do what needs to be done. He is in charge, and therefore does not need to be polite. |
| Likewise, a person needs to be aware of the 'negligent' boss. He takes no authority, nor does he delegate it. Wasting time is his finest attribute and procrastination is his middle name. To him, there is no need for prioritizing or scheduling. He just goes with the flow. This guy is without a care, until he has reached the end of his deadline and begins to panic. Of course, when this happens, his employees are the slackers, not him. |
| If the controlling and negligent bosses aren't intimidating enough, just wait. There is one who is scarier. He is the 'fickle' boss. An employee will never do anything right when the fickle boss is in charge. This is just one fellow that can't be pleased, because the only routine he follows is his daily mind change. One day, he is as devoted and easygoing as anyone could hope for. The next day he tends to act somewhat like the controlling boss. Moreover, his employees are often left confused and never knowing what is going to happen. For instance, they needn't get their hopes up when the fickle boss mentions a pay raise because sales are up. Tomorrow, the business may be headed for bankruptcy. |
| Regardless of the profession, one must be prepared to deal with many different personality types. However, if working with extreme personalities doesn't sound appealing, there's always self-employment. Now is the time to go into business and "Be your own boss." |
| Beware of the Bosses |
| April 1, 2002 |
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