Resources
We’re all about paying it forward - sharing tips and supporting bosses on their journeys to be great. This section is packed with resources to help —so dive in, explore, and enjoy!
Our book - We're super excited about our book, Bad Bosses Ruin Lives: The Building Blocks for Being a Great Boss, so wanted to share with you highlights from it. Learn about the 10 types of bad bosses and our Great Boss Building Block Model.
Free downloads - We created a variety of documents that can be downloaded for free. We think you’ll find them interesting and pick up some valuable insights along the way.
Links to podcasts and articles - We've had a blast being on podcasts and contributing to articles to discuss and share the key messages and tips from our book. We thought we'd share them with you as they each have something interesting that you could find helpful.
About Our Book
The aim of our book is to create awareness - which bad boss traits do I have? - and action - what actions do I need to take? - to help ALL bosses be great!
Here's what one reader said about the book:
"It's a book to keep close to hand during a life long leadership development journey. And if you work in an office, you can leave it on your desk for everyone to see as a great conversation starter!"
There are two sections to the book - the first explains the 10 Types of Bad Bosses, and the second explains the Great Boss Building Block Model.
Click on the buttons below to take you to more details on these sections.
The 10 Types of Bad Bosses
When we think of bad bosses we conjure up images of cartoon characters with steam coming out of their ears, or holding a megaphone and screaming at their poor defenseless employees. And while these stereotypical bad bosses do exist, the reality is that many other types and traits exist in the real workplace, far beyond the caricature we see in cartoons or Hollywood.
In our book, we explore 10 types of bad bosses, reflecting the traits that exist in many bosses in the workplace (and possibly in you). Below we've provided high level definitions for each.
Definitions of Bad Bosses
Doesn't show up for their people, ghosting them, and not giving them the time, attention, and feedback they need to do their job and feel valued.
Doesn’t listen to what their people say. They ignore input, ideas, and perspectives from their people, thus missing out on what they have to say, and making their people feel undervalued.
Keeps information to themselves, or shares it in ways that don't really help the people they're supposed to be helping.
Doesn’t show their people recognition, gratitude, or appreciation, making them feel unvalued, invisible, and unappreciated for their actions and contributions.
Withholds the truth to avoid causing discomfort to others, aiming to please by giving responses they believe are wanted. However, this approach fails to provide the honest communication that others need and deserve.
Prevents or gets in the way of their people’s development and career progression, blocking them from achieving their goals, mastering new skills, or contributing to the company’s success.
Deals with situations in a reactive and urgent manner, moving people from fire to fire with no apparent strategy, impacting their ability to plan, learn, grow, and achieve more meaningful and long-term achievements.
Overly involved in their people’s work, constantly controlling and prescribing what and how work is done.
Assigns responsibility to someone(s) for a fault or wrong, casting blame and refusing to take any accountability themselves.
Uses power in order to bully, control, and coerce processes and outcomes, expecting strict compliance and offering their people a low degree of autonomy.
The Great Boss Building Block Model
So what do you need to do to be a great boss? What actions can you take? To help with this, in our book we share our Great Boss Building Block Model™. It’s something we developed based on our own individual journeys as a boss (great, good, and bad!), and in working with and supporting others throughout our careers. The model has 14 different elements, or what we’re calling “building blocks.”
There are two types of blocks - the six on the bottom, which we call the “foundation” blocks, and the eight on the top, which we call the “connecting” blocks.
Definitions for each Building Block
listening
You hear and decode what your people say and suggest, showing that you value their input and contributions.
development
You help your people create the best approach and plan for them to develop their abilities, learn new skills and achieve their goals.
respect
You believe in the value of your people, recognizing their abilities and contributions, and treating them with dignity and courtesy.
empathy
You understand what your people feel and need based on their individual and diverse situations, challenges and frustrations.
communication
You share information with your people openly, honestly, transparently and continuously.
coaching
You support and facilitate actions and activities to help your people learn, grow, discover and explore solutions to help them achieve their goals.
trust
You believe that your people will do the right thing, having confidence in their honesty, integrity, and reliability.
compassion
You take action to encourage and support your people through understanding and empathizing with their individual and diverse needs.
feedback
You provide information to your people on how they’ve behaved and performed to help them grow, learn and improve.
empowerment
You give your people the freedom, power, control, and space to take ownership of their work.
authenticity
You determine and display to your people who you are, what you believe in, and your true self.
appreciation
You show your people that you recognize, acknowledge, value and appreciate their efforts, accomplishments and contributions.
inspiration
You motivate your people by driving them towards a common purpose to achieve milestones and overcome obstacles and challenges.
vulnerability
You reveal to your people the full spectrum of your true self, including your emotions, struggles, and imperfections.
Free Downloads
Introduction to Book
To give you insights into the topics covered in our book Bad Bosses Ruin Lives: The Building Blocks for Being a Great Boss, we’re sharing the Introduction chapter which covers:
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Why we have bad bosses
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Myths and misconceptions about bad bosses
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The changing role of a boss
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The impact and shadow you cast
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Final challenges
Bad Boss Survey Report
Get an exclusive look into the Bad Boss surveys conducted for our book, giving you insights into:
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The most common types of bad bosses from two perspectives – on bosses you've had, and on you as a boss.
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The disconnect between how and what employees and bosses identify in bad bosses traits.
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Statistics to highlight the current “bad boss” landscape.
building block survey report
Get an exclusive look at a survey we conducted at a UK conference to uncover which of the 14 building blocks from our Great Boss Building Block™ model are making it into management development programs, and which ones might still need a spot in the lineup. Includes:
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How skills-based training is stealing the spotlight.
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How behavioral-based training is gaining ground.
Podcasts & Articles
With Andy Goram we discuss the practical and actionable steps to becoming a better boss, fostering trust, and creating a positive workplace culture where employees can thrive.
With Tom Emery we have a great discussion about leadership, with a particular focus on our book, Bad Bosses Ruin Lives, and how it can help us all to lead more effectively. It’s a brilliant conversation with so much insight.
With Chris Rainey we delve into bad boss behaviors and what we can all do to improve and correct them, sharing personal stories of when we've experienced and been bad bosses.
With Ollie Henderson we delve into the evolving complexities of workplace dynamics, giving a blueprint for how we can improve as leaders.
With Henry Lopez, Debra discusses how bad bosses ruin lives and great bosses enrich lives to lead the growth of a small business,
The 4 A's of Being a Great Boss
The 10 Types of Bad Bosses
How to Avoid Being a Bad Boss
Why managers need to embrace their bad boss traits, not run from them
The 3 Most Common Types of Bad Bosses
Helping Your Bosses Build Their Six Pack