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.

Worst boss? Unprofessional, immature, unethical, engages/also instigator of gossip (good grief!), takes things personally, unreceptive to constructive feedback, stifles your career/personal growth, favoritism..
We escalated the issue to HR and after the investigation and hearing, he/she was suspended and given final written warning. If he/she repeats the same offenses, next step is termination.

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.

Wisdom shared to me by my deceased mentor: "Learn from the mistakes of others. Your bad boss is an opportunity to develop essential leadership qualities. It is a catalyst that propels your leadership journey."

Hi Lisa, thanks for the feedback. It is reflective.
I completely agree that every individual human will have strengths and weaknesses. One should learn to view differently to untap the strength and learn from them.
In my view we all have very limited time and better to focus on strengths rather weaknesses.

Thanks for sharing your experience.

Jessica,
"Learn to form the mistakes of others. Your bad boss is an opportunity to develop essential leadership qualities. It is a catalyst that propels your leadership journey."... I like it... Thank you