@CrappyBoss Q&A #9

Q. What's the worst crappy boss behavior?

A. It is hard to say what’s “worst” because crappiness is in the eye – or the ear, as the case may be – of the beholder. 

The ear? 

Yes, the ear. 

You might remember in the mid-1990’s the case of J.R. Bolduc, the CEO of W.R. Grace Co. Inc., who was forced out of his job because, the company said, he had sexually harassed several female employees.  According to the Washington Post:

“Published reports quoted Grace employees as saying that Bolduc frequently made sexual jokes, nibbled on women workers' ears, patted their buttocks and licked his fingers and put them in their ears. 

Talk about getting an earful from the boss! This case stands out for me as a particularly fine example of crappy behavior. 

I am going to complete the answer to this question in my next post by turning from specific cases to what I see as the most wide-spread, general type of crappy boss behavior: Give it up for, MICROMANAGEMENT.

@CrappyBoss Q&A #8

Q. When are you going to start answering some substantive questions?

A. First, lest we forget, I'm the boss so I'll be asking the questions here.

But yes indeed, most of the Q&A so far has been about me. And the problem with that is? As a crappy boss, you must understand, it's always about me.

I will move on to some substantive questions as soon as I am done procrastinating.

@CrappyBoss Q&A #7

Q. Why don't you register the #crappyboss hashtag?

A. That's a great idea and I think I should take the credit for having it. Check this out: http://tagdef.com/crappyboss

@CrappyBoss Q&A #6

Q. What’s the profile of your followers?

A. My followers appear to fall into four main groups:

1. Aficionados of urban music who TWEET IN ALL CAPS

2. Multilevel marketers and other people continuously hawking goods and services

3. Attractive women with a thousand-plus followers, but no profile and no tweets

4. People interested in management, leadership and HR

The last category is the most relevant for my purposes. (Not that a hip hop star (WTF), a seller of colon cleansing services (I think I got that follower because of the word “crappy” in my profile) or someone with the handle @ShizueCiak7942 (if you were named “Shizue Ciak,” why would you need the “7942”?) couldn’t be a crappy boss.)

Followers in this last category are the ones I look to for thoughtful, honest and open conversation . . . wait a minute, what am I saying? I hate thoughtful, honest and open conversation.

No, in truth, the last category of followers are the ones I hope will help me achieve my greatest aspiration: to make #crappyboss a trending topic.

@CrappyBoss Q&A #5

Q. Are you a man or a woman?

A. I get asked that question often.

The majority of my followers seem to think I am a man. Maybe that’s because people associate crappy boss behavior more with men than with women. Or maybe it’s because more men are bosses than women. It’s not clear.

One thing that is clear, however, is that anyone – woman or man – can be a crappy boss. Neither sex has a monopoly on crappy boss behavior. 

@CrappyBoss Q&A #4

Q. What can I expect to learn from you, Crappy Boss?

A. People aren't born crappy bosses any more than they are born frequent fliers or gourmet cooks. People are frequent fliers because they fly frequently; people are gourmet cooks because the cook gourmetedly; and people are crappy bosses because they boss crappily. Management and leadership (be they good or bad) are not matters of who you are, internally as a person, but rather, a matter of what you do - your acts. So, if you want to be a crappy boss, I can help you learn how to act like a crappy boss.

Now, I am sorry to admit, that some people want to be good bosses. Those so inclined can learn from me, too. You can describe something by saying what that something does or by saying what that something does not do. I suppose that, for those wanting to be good bosses, I unintentionally provide the latter service - describing what a good boss does not do.

@CrappyBoss Q&A #3

Q. Why did you start tweeting and blogging?

A. To get equal time for crappy bosses in social media.

Have you ever noticed how many people tweet and blog about good management, leadership and HR? But who represents those of us who want BAD management, leadership and HR? Who gives us affirmation or offers us advice? Crappy bosses are not represented in social media. We are a majority, I believe, but a silent one; I hope to change that, one tweet and post at a time.