The Different Kinds of Bosses

After telling us about the two new protected classes of employees, the You Don’t Say blog turns its attention to bosses. While the blog is talking about bosses in the newspaper business, I think you’ll recognize these bosses as populating every kind of workplace.

The Fonctionnaire – He endures, biding his time until more talented colleagues flame out and then occupies the chair of authority because no one is left.

Great Is Caesar – Superficially magnanimous, he’s ruthless in pursuit of empire building, eliminating anyone who obstructs him.

Pharaoh — Like Great Is Caesar, he wants to accomplish great things, but is clueless, so he resorts to being a dictator.

The Regular Guy — He wants to be your pal, so whatever you do is fine, until your interests get in the way of his interests.

I Know Better – He exists to demonstrate his superiority over subordinates he has promoted because his superiority over them can be easily demonstrated.

Out Of His Depth – He is where he is because there’s no possibility that he would ever be a threat to anyone above him.

Eager Beaver — He’ll work 16 hour days, take any assignment, meet any deadline, accept any rejection, and show up the next day to do it all again.

Tee Time — He has no interest in the operation of the business, plays golf often, and leaves Out Of His Depth in charge.

OCD – He’s the micro-manager, constantly updating, correcting, tweaking, redoing, reorganizing, refining, and making maddening demands.

The Graduate — He’s smarter than you and lets no opportunity pass to remind you of that, expecting almost nothing but nodding assent.

I haven’t done justice to this list of bosses in my abbreviated version above, so take the time to read the entire YDS post. It’ll make you laugh and realize that you’re not alone.