Macho, insensitive bosses share certain characteristics. Their behavior is arrogant, quick-tempered and controlling. Their motives are typically selfish and manipulative. They show little concern for others and few signs of understanding why others don’t trust them. Most of all, they are quite unaware of their failings and the impact they have on their subordinates. No only do they see no need to change, they often make their high-handed behavior a source of pride.
That’s why you can trust them to be some of your best teachers
Before you decide that I’ve lost my mind, I'll explain.
Most human beings are amazingly consistent in the way they behave. That’s why we can say of some action, “That isn’t like you,” or “It’s so out of character.” Without that consistency, such a remark would be pointless. And amongst the most consistent groups of all are those who spend least time in any kind of introspection: the extreme extroverts, the loud, slap-you-on-the-back hearty types, the arrogant, the pompous, the selfish and the self-centered — the people who, if they become bosses, are most likely to prove to be bad ones.
Powerful lessons from powerful (and hopelessly unaware) people
Bad bosses can become useful teachers precisely because their behavior tends to be so consistently bad. You can be fairly sure of their motives and intentions, which allows you to compare cause (what they did and probably why they did it) with effect (how it turned out).
The pompous boss, convinced of her superiority and the rightness of whatever she does; the lazy boss, sure that status confers the right to live off other people’s efforts; the rigid, controlling boss, firm in his belief that all subordinates are incompetent without his oversight; all of these (and many more) hold to their actions so tenaciously — and are so blind to what they are doing — that they will provide some of the best lessons in what not to do that you will ever be offered.
Here are seven of the lessons you might come across, beginning with productivity:
See how much effort bad bosses have to use to make things happen their way; effort that would be unnecessary if they behaved better — all that time spent micro-managing and checking; all the ranting and raving to reduce others to obedience; all the lies and stratagems needed to manipulate others instead of asking them openly.
See how others react to them; how people become adept at sabotaging their efforts and undermining their success. Even when they dare not oppose the boss openly, subordinates will show great ingenuity in finding other ways to frustrate them.
Look at the effect bad bosses have on trust — how this type of behavior ruins relationships with customers as well as employees. Once discovered, as it always is in the end, cynical manipulation renders future trust impossible too.
What
Rigidity next. Most macho bosses see changing a poor decision as an unacceptable sign of weakness. How many times have you seen a bad leader produce disaster from what could have been a triumph, simply because he or she refused to admit to — and change — a bad decision?
Take some time to consider what survival in the lifestyle of a bad boss demands. Is that how you would be willing to live? Are the rewards they get worth what they have to do to get them?
Most
Besides, the macho tough guys can never admit to being wrong. They can’t learn from their own mistakes. Since you can, it’s an advantage you can use for all it’s worth.
相关单词:arrogant
arrogant解释:adj.傲慢的,自大的
arrogant例句:
You've got to get rid of your arrogant ways.你这骄傲劲儿得好好改改。
People are waking up that he is arrogant.人们开始认识到他很傲慢。
相关单词:motives
motives解释:n.动机,目的( motive的名词复数 )
motives例句:
to impeach sb's motives 怀疑某人的动机
His motives are unclear. 他的用意不明。
相关单词:unaware
unaware解释:a.不知道的,未意识到的
unaware例句:
They were unaware that war was near. 他们不知道战争即将爆发。
I was unaware of the man's presence. 我没有察觉到那人在场。
相关单词:consistency
consistency解释:n.一贯性,前后一致,稳定性;(液体的)浓度
consistency例句:
Your behaviour lacks consistency.你的行为缺乏一贯性。
We appreciate the consistency and stability in China and in Chinese politics.我们赞赏中国及其政策的连续性和稳定性。
相关单词:extroverts
extroverts解释:性格外向的人( extrovert的名词复数 ); 活跃、愉快、爱交际的人
extroverts例句:
In the second half, the students were criticized. Extroverts were unfazed. 在后半部分,举不动时学生要受批评,外向性格的学生表现出不满。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 大脑与疾病
Extroverts prefer lively conversation to brooding on the meaning of life. 性格外向的人喜欢高谈阔论,而不愿思索人生的意义。
相关单词:hearty
hearty解释:adj.热情友好的;衷心的;尽情的,纵情的
hearty例句:
After work they made a hearty meal in the worker's canteen.工作完了,他们在工人食堂饱餐了一顿。
We accorded him a hearty welcome.我们给他热忱的欢迎。
相关单词:pompous
pompous解释:adj.傲慢的,自大的;夸大的;豪华的
pompous例句:
He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities.他有点自大,自视甚高。
He is a good man underneath his pompous appearance. 他的外表虽傲慢,其实是个好人。
相关单词:precisely
precisely解释:adv.恰好,正好,精确地,细致地
precisely例句:
It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。
相关单词:rigid
rigid解释:adj.严格的,死板的;刚硬的,僵硬的
rigid例句:
She became as rigid as adamant.她变得如顽石般的固执。
The examination was so rigid that nearly all aspirants were ruled out.考试很严,几乎所有的考生都被淘汰了。
相关单词:incompetent
incompetent解释:adj.无能力的,不能胜任的
incompetent例句:
He is utterly incompetent at his job.他完全不能胜任他的工作。
He is incompetent at working with his hands.他动手能力不行。
相关单词:oversight
oversight解释:n.勘漏,失察,疏忽
oversight例句:
I consider this a gross oversight on your part.我把这件事看作是你的一大疏忽。
Your essay was not marked through an oversight on my part.由于我的疏忽你的文章没有打分。
相关单词:tenaciously
tenaciously解释:坚持地
tenaciously例句:
Though seriously ill, he still clings tenaciously to life. 他虽病得很重,但仍顽强地活下去。 来自辞典例句
It was apparently more tenaciously held to surface than fraction three. 它比级分三更顽强地保持在表面上。 来自辞典例句
相关单词:ranting
ranting解释:v.夸夸其谈( rant的现在分词 );大叫大嚷地以…说教;气愤地)大叫大嚷;不停地大声抱怨
ranting例句:
Mrs. Sakagawa stopped her ranting. 坂川太太戛然中断悲声。 来自辞典例句
He was ranting
相关单词:raving
raving解释:adj.说胡话的;疯狂的,怒吼的;非常漂亮的;令人醉心[痴心]的v.胡言乱语(rave的现在分词)n.胡话;疯话adv.胡言乱语地;疯狂地
raving例句:
The man's a raving lunatic. 那个男子是个语无伦次的疯子。
When I told her I'd crashed her car, she went stark raving bonkers. 我告诉她我把她的车撞坏了时,她暴跳如雷。
相关单词:obedience
obedience解释:n.服从,顺从
obedience例句:
Society has a right to expect obedience of the law.社会有权要求人人遵守法律。
Soldiers act in obedience to the orders of their superior officers.士兵们遵照上级军官的命令行动。
相关单词:stratagems
stratagems解释:n.诡计,计谋( stratagem的名词复数 );花招
stratagems例句:
My bargaining stratagems are starting to show some promise. 我的议价策略也已经出现了一些结果。 来自电影对白
These commanders are ace-high because of their wisdom and stratagems. 这些指挥官因足智多谋而特别受人喜爱。 来自互联网
相关单词:adept
adept解释:adj.老练的,精通的
adept例句:
When it comes to photography,I'm not an adept.要说照相,我不是内行。
He was highly adept at avoiding trouble.他十分善于避开麻烦。
相关单词:sabotaging
sabotaging解释:阴谋破坏(某事物)( sabotage的现在分词 )
sabotaging例句:
Mr Smith fiercely denied any question of sabotaging the talks. 史密斯先生坚决拒绝任何企图阻挠谈话的提问。
Failed in sabotaging APEC summit in Sydney of Australia. 澳大利亚悉尼APEC会议遭遇惨败。
相关单词:ingenuity
ingenuity解释:n.别出心裁;善于发明创造
ingenuity例句:
The boy showed ingenuity in making toys.那个小男孩做玩具很有创造力。
I admire your ingenuity and perseverance.我钦佩你的别出心裁和毅力。
相关单词:frustrate
frustrate解释:v.使失望;使沮丧;使厌烦
frustrate例句:
But this didn't frustrate Einstein.He was content to go as far as he could.但这并没有使爱因斯坦灰心,他对能够更深入地研究而感到满意。
They made their preparations to frustrate the conspiracy.他们作好准备挫败这个阴谋。
相关单词:cynical
cynical解释:adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的,不信世道向善的
cynical例句:
The enormous difficulty makes him cynical
He was cynical that any good could come of democracy.他不相信民主会带来什么好处。
相关单词:depressed
depressed解释:adj.沮丧的,抑郁的,不景气的,萧条的
depressed例句:
When he was depressed,he felt utterly divorced from reality.他心情沮丧时就感到完全脱离了现实。
His mother was depressed by the sad news.这个坏消息使他的母亲意志消沉。
相关单词:prospects
prospects解释:n.希望,前途(恒为复数)
prospects例句:
There is a mood of pessimism in the company
They are less sanguine
相关单词:rigidity
rigidity解释:adj.钢性,坚硬
rigidity例句:
The rigidity of the
He deplored the rigidity of her views.他痛感她的观点僵化。
相关单词:embarrassment
embarrassment解释:n.尴尬;使人为难的人(事物);障碍;窘迫
embarrassment例句:
She could have died away with embarrassment.她窘迫得要死。
Coughing at a concert can be a real embarrassment.在音乐会上咳嗽真会使人难堪。
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