July 17th 2024.
We all have that one boss who haunts our nightmares, and for many of us, that boss is none other than Miranda Priestly. Her infamous line, "Is there some reason that my coffee isn't here? Has she died or something?" still sends shivers down our spines. But now, there are rumors that The Devil Wears Prada and our beloved Miranda Priestly will be making a comeback on the big screen. This means more of Meryl Streep's icy glares and even colder put-downs. While some may be excited for the return of this iconic nightmare boss, not all managers are as revered.
The daily struggles of having an unreasonable and demanding boss can feel overwhelming, even if they are not as tyrannical as the infamous Runway editor. We don't expect a kiss on the forehead or a gold star on our homework, but we do expect basic respect for our boundaries and manners. Unfortunately, for many Metro readers, this is not the case. In fact, two out of three employees in the UK have worked under a bad manager, with disrespectful behavior and a negative attitude being the top complaints.
Sarah*, a 45-year-old, shares her experience with her boss who would sit and file her nails while the rest of the team was stressed and overworked. "She was obsessed with her weight and even had scales delivered to the office to weigh our food and make faces if we were eating something 'bad'," she recalls. Despite complaints to HR, nothing was ever done and the editor is still in her position after 15 years.
May*, a 33-year-old, shares how her boss took the news of her splitting up with her husband and emailed it to the entire team, instructing them to let him know if she was talking too much about her personal problems. "This was a boss who would often complain to me about his lack of sex life and had me covering three roles because so many team members were signed off with mental health problems," she shares. Bailey*, a 40-year-old, was invited by her married older boss to have a threesome with a client after a work event. When she refused, her boss refused to talk to her for a month before she quit. "She even told me I would never work in PR again, but luckily she wasn't as influential as she thought," Bailey says.
Elaine*, a 45-year-old, was overwhelmed after returning from maternity leave and started crying on the phone. "She shouted at me to pull myself together because I had people to manage and they couldn't see that I was upset. It made me feel horrible," she shares. It's clear that not all bosses reach even the bare minimum of being respectful and understanding.
For Forbes 30 Under 30 entrepreneur and career expert, Ben Askins, dealing with nightmare bosses is familiar territory. He runs a TikTok channel where people share their horrendous exchanges with their bosses, and he calls out their bad behavior and mismanagement. One memorable story he received was from an employee whose boss tried to tamper with their annual leave after it had already been approved. "This poor person was already on holiday in Mexico when their boss tried to cancel it," Ben shares. Another nightmare supervisor sent a bunch of foul messages berating an employee for missing their shift, only to realize later that the employee wasn't even scheduled to work.
It's clear that we all know what makes a bad boss, but what makes a competent one? According to Ben, a competent boss understands that a motivated and engaged team leads to higher financial and commercial performance. "Set up your team to feel supported, rewarded, and have someone who has their back," he advises. He also stresses the importance of not managing through fear and negativity, as this can only lead to a toxic work environment.
If you find yourself stuck with a nightmare boss like Andy and Emily did in The Devil Wears Prada, it's important to learn how to cope with them in order to come out of the experience stronger. LinkedIn career expert Charlotte Davies suggests celebrating your own achievements and strengths, even if your boss doesn't. "Your confidence may have taken a hit, so remind yourself of the positive impact you've had on a project or team," she says. Keeping a log of your achievements and filing emails with positive feedback can also be helpful for a confidence boost.
It's also important to communicate clearly with a difficult manager. Charlotte suggests being honest and setting boundaries, as well as managing their expectations on deadlines. "Not all managers are aware of your workload, so it's important to clearly communicate your availability and be honest if something is unrealistic," she explains. Lastly, remember that you can only control how you act, not your boss. So try not to take their behavior personally and maintain a professional and positive attitude.
Do you have a story about a nightmare boss? Share it in the comments below.
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