How to Spot a Bad Manager

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The success of any business depends heavily on the effectiveness of its managers. Bad managers exist in every organization. The worst managers fail to trust employees, don't respect them, and intimidate them. Bad managers cause unnecessary stress in the workplace and are a major cause of reduced productivity and performance. Ultimately, not everyone is management material.

A Bad Manager is Arrogant

Research has shown that arrogant employees are poor performers who create stress for others and their behavior is likely to create a negative atmosphere in the office. An arrogant manager is less likely to welcome or solicit feedback and is likely to keep subordinates in a helpless position as they have authority over their promotions or opportunities. A bad manager is also much less likely to offer mentoring or coaching, leading to a less-developed team.

A Bad Manager Micromanages

Micromanagement is one of the most frustrating habits a manager can have. By paying too much attention to every tiny detail, the manager eats up their own time, which should be spent on other things, and shows a complete lack of trust in their team. When a manager shows a lack of trust in their team, it reduces the likelihood of them coming up with new ideas and improvements.

A Bad Manager Gives Unclear Instructions

Often, bad managers who are in a rush will bark out one or two lines of instruction when much more is needed. They provide instructions with insufficient detail or a lack of background information. It always pays for managers to be slow and careful in the delivery of instructions, rather than rushing and becoming irritated when things aren’t done properly.

A Bad Manager Blames Others

Rather than take responsibility when things go wrong, a bad manager will blame others when confronted. Managers who blame their team members will lose respect, as they should delegate authority but not responsibility.

A Bad Manager is Too Friendly

It is important that managers build positive, friendly working relationships with those that work for them, but it’s also important to make sure they don’t fall into the trap of being so friendly that managing the team becomes difficult. If someone behaves poorly at work or is not performing their role effectively, then the manager needs to be able to address this properly. If the relationship with the employee compromises the manager’s ability to do this, then it has become too personal. Although likable, this manager will struggle to maintain full control of the team.

A Bad Manager is Always Critical

A constant critic is a real drain on a company’s energy and creativity. This bad manager’s attitude will keep people working within very narrow guidelines and discourages any attempt by people to reach out and offer new solutions to problems. Every manager should be careful to acknowledge the effort and good work.

To learn what to look for in a good manager, read through these top leadership qualities.