Is Your Boss Too Bossy?
- Well, Take This Quiz!

1. Do you go out of your way to avoid your boss?

2. Do you usually ask your boss's secretary what kind of mood he or she is in before stepping in to his or her office to ask a question?

3. Do you hesitate to offer your opinion because it isn't asked for or listened to anyway?

4. Do you rarely get a word of thanks no matter how hard you work?

5. Does your boss criticize you in public?

6. Is your boss "the Teflon man"? Does he slide away from decisions and action?

7. Do you have to ask for feedback in order to get it?

8. Do you only hear what's wrong when you do get feedback?

9. Does your boss frequently say, "Handle it," (without a word of explanation) and then disappear?

10. Does your boss play favorites?

11. Does your boss make jokes about your weaknesses?

12. Does your boss respond to your requests for career guidance by saying, "Just work hard and you won't have to worry about it"?

13. Does your boss allow numerous interruptions when you're trying to talk to him or her?

14. Does your boss hog the credit for your work?

15. Does your boss keep dumping additional work on you, in spite of your heavy workload, without making any attempt to help you prioritize?

16. Does your boss take every opportunity to enforce the rules in a rigid, black and white manner regardless of personal circumstances?

17. Does your boss use phrases such as, "Just do what you're told." "You're not paid to think."

18. Do people avoid applying for jobs in your area because your boss's reputation is lousy?

19. Has at least one person left your area in the past year because he or she couldn't tolerate your boss?

20. Do the people in your work unit spend at least ten minutes a week discussing the boss's behavior towards them?

21. Do people in your boss's area rarely get promoted?

22. Does your boss talk at you instead of with you?

23. Do you complain about your boss at least once every week to a friend or family member?

24. Does your boss "forget" to tell you about information the rest of your peers know?

25. Does your boss frequently cancel your meetings with him or her at the last minute because some "important" issue has come up?

26. Do you get a generic performance review without specific examples of what you did right or wrong?

27. Does your boss say one thing but mean another?

28. Does your boss ignore your complaints or fail to act on them?

29. Does your boss call meetings just to hear himself talk?

30. Do you rarely get an opportunity to try something new in spite of repeated requests?

Now, check your score!

If you circled 0 to 5, consider yourself lucky.

If you circled 6 to 10, chances are your boss is a good leader who is only human. In the press of daily events, no one will be a perfect manager all of the time.

If you circled 11 to 20, your boss is probably difficult to work for. You will have to decide if it is worth putting up with it to get what you want. Many people tolerate difficult bosses because they are learning new things, are in a field they adore, or need the job. If these or other rational reasons don't exist, it might be wise to consider changing jobs. Your boss may block your advancement or make your life miserable - either way, your motivation could disappear or your performance could suffer.

If you circled more than 20, your mental and physical health are at stake. Put a resume together and put the word out to your friends and relatives that you're looking for a new job. Don't wait-unless you're a masochist.

If you circled numbers: 5.10.11.14.17., you could be in a very bad position. Bosses who don't care about their employees, make cruel remarks, are selfish, threatened, or arrogant are particularly dangerous to work for. They can destroy your self-esteem and self-confidence to the point where you doubt yourself. No job is worth that.

Good managers know that employee satisfaction is essential to healthy teamwork, initiative and productivity. Joan Lloyd’s booklet, 86 Creative Ideas for Having More Fun & Less Stress at Work, is packed with ideas for building employee satisfaction and work/life balance while reducing stress in your workplace. Guaranteed to give you fresh ideas any company can implement in categories such as: Fun with a Purpose, Building a Family Atmosphere & a Sense of Community, Having Fun at Work for the Sake of Fun, Rewarding Great Performance & Stress Busters! Also available by return email, in PDF format!.

Joan Lloyd has a solid track record of excellent results. Her firm, Joan Lloyd & Associates, specializes in leadership development, organizational change and teambuilding. This includes executive coaching, 360-degree feedback processes, customized leadership training, conflict resolution between teams or individuals, internal consulting skills training for HR professionals and retreat facilitation. Clients report results such as: behavior change in leaders, improved team performance and a more committed workforce.

Joan Lloyd has earned her C.S.P. (certified speaking professional) designation from the National Speakers Association and speaks to corporate audiences, as well as trade & professional associations across the country. Reach her at (800) 348-1944, mailto:info@joanlloyd.com, or www.JoanLloyd.com.

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