No one starts out wanting to be a bad manager. Most people also don’t intentionally plan their day to end up exhibiting poor management practices.
But many people sure end up being one. In fact, the odds are that you are more likely to be a bad manager than a good one, despite all the books, audiotapes, lectures, and seminars produced on the subject.
So if he’s destined to be a bad manager, he might as well be a good one. Here are 10 things you should do:
1. Don’t trust people below you. In fact, make an effort to question their work or behavior whenever you can. After all, you know they’re only looking for Number One and it’s not you.
2. Supervise your people to death. Everyone knows that you can do their job better than them, so you better do it for them. Who cares if they get mad. Your bosses want things done, right? If you don’t micromanage them, it’s a simple fact that it won’t be done the way it’s supposed to be done.
3. Play favorites. After all, it’s just human nature. Everyone has favourites. Why should you be different? Besides, isn’t that how you get special things done to you? This is not communism. Some people below you deserve better treatment and some don’t. That’s the way things are, right?
4. Being arrogant and exhibiting authoritarian behavior. Let’s be honest. You are in charge and that is no accident. Being nice is fine, but being harsh is better. Someone has to bark orders. That’s the only thing people respond to, right?
5. Do not give credit to others. You are the boss. If anyone should recognize the success of your department or division, it should be you. After all, it’s you who will be fired if things don’t work out. On the contrary, should others bask in your glory?
6. Do not respect the time of others. So what if people have to wait for you before holding a meeting? Your time is much more valuable than theirs considering your position. And who cares if they have pressing personal issues. If you have to work late without complaining, they should too.
7. Be passive-aggressive. Bring people to their knees by going behind their backs. That’s how the real world works, right? Forget being direct. Where does it take you but to anguish? It is better to strike silently in the shadows than to face confrontation.
8. Don’t set goals or change them midway. That way, people will always be off guard and won’t be accommodating to you. There is nothing worse than complacent people who just go through the motions.
9. Create fear by speaking. Nobody needs a troublemaker. If you set the right tone early on so that people think twice before questioning your decisions or your authority, then everything will work out much better.
10. Hire your friends or spouse. Enough talk.
If you can master these 10 tips, you’ll be well on your way to becoming the bad manager everyone says you’re capable of being. Good luck.
