Describe your worst boss, how would you handle it?

Back 20+ years ago, I was interviewing at a very entry level position at the University. Everyone that I talked to about this interview told me the same thing...."Don't even interview! She is the worse boss ever. She goes through many staff assistants. She's very difficult to work for."

Well, at that time, I was a single mom and needed to increase my pay and make sure I could provide benefits for my children and myself. So I interviewed.

During the interview, I had the chance. She has asked if I had any questions. I liked what I had heard to that point. But I had to know why everyone felt that I shouldn't (or even couldn't) work with her.

I politely looked at her and said, "Professor Mc*******, I've heard that you are difficult to work for. Can you tell me what would make others think this way?"

The answer was amazing and I'm glad I asked. She politely told me that she has been in her job for many years. She has a huge responsibility (she was in charge of Undergraduate Mathematics) and in order for her to have time to teach, everything else needed to be done correctly. She had her ways and it has worked for many years. A lot of new hires will try to change those ways without learning first.

I got the job offer and I accepted. I learned so much from this woman. University Policies, working with students, etc. She was anti-computers and this was when computers were driving our work. I took my time to learn her end results. Why she needed what she was getting in the end. I then would change my way of getting to the end result and how it compared to the way she was doing it. We got a long fine. She was an amazing person and educator.

So sometimes the worst boss for someone else, can be the greatest mentor to others.

Understand the expectations of the boss, set it clear at first. Update the boss on project progress, give status report, inform on critical milestones, goals and achievements. Involve in crucial conversation and meetings.

Escalation or moving out of the project should be the last option.

'Worst' is situational, subjective, and relative. Worst could be a boss that is restrictive, or does not empower an individual to flourish. I would express myself differently, in an interview, but those are my experiences when thinking of a disappointing boss.

Back 20+ years ago, I was interviewing at a very entry level position at the University. Everyone that I talked to about this interview told me the same thing...."Don't even interview! She is the worse boss ever. She goes through many staff assistants. She's very difficult to work for."

Well, at that time, I was a single mom and needed to increase my pay and make sure I could provide benefits for my children and myself. So I interviewed.

During the interview, I had the chance. She has asked if I had any questions. I liked what I had heard to that point. But I had to know why everyone felt that I shouldn't (or even couldn't) work with her.

I politely looked at her and said, "Professor Mc*******, I've heard that you are difficult to work for. Can you tell me what would make others think this way?"

The answer was amazing and I'm glad I asked. She politely told me that she has been in her job for many years. She has a huge responsibility (she was in charge of Undergraduate Mathematics) and in order for her to have time to teach, everything else needed to be done correctly. She had her ways and it has worked for many years. A lot of new hires will try to change those ways without learning first.

I got the job offer and I accepted. I learned so much from this woman. University Policies, working with students, etc. She was anti-computers and this was when computers were driving our work. I took my time to learn her end results. Why she needed what she was getting in the end. I then would change my way of getting to the end result and how it compared to the way she was doing it. We got a long fine. She was an amazing person and educator.

So sometimes the worst boss for someone else, can be the greatest mentor to others.

Great story Lisa, thank you sharing it with us. I have a similar story, albeit, not related to career, at least not directly.

In 10th grade, my English teacher, let's say, was not the most favorite. Now, at the time, I was not a good student. My priorities were misaligned. In the U.S., the year is broken into quarters. The first quarter was typical for me - not even trying.

Then something happened. Honestly, I don't know what. But something she did lit a match in me, and from that point on, I was a straight A student - okay, occasional B.

I owe so much to her, and where most students found reason to complain and grunt, I found reason to excel and prosper.

The point is, look at the underlying lesson from both Lisa's experience and my own. Others' experiences to not necessarily carry over to your own, and certainly does not pave the road in front of you.

Excellent stories Lisa and Andrew! I've been asked something similar, in that I was asked what did I hate the most about working in a job and I immediately thought of a prior boss. If I had been asked to describe my worst boss, I would answer similarly. I've had two and what I found most difficult about them was they lacked ethical behavior and did not have my back. In my years as an employee, manager, and leader, above all what I found is I can not tolerate a boss who is unethical, who gossips or speaks poorly of upper leadership or team members. In addition, it it vital that the boss act in such a way as to always support the team. I need to know they have my back and have the backs of my team members. Without that, a team cannot flourish, cannot grow or achieve superior performance. To Johns' point absolutely DO NOT ever bash on a prior boss or colleague. When reciting a story point out the areas where you learned what to do, or not to do, and how it helped you grow.