Bad Manager or Maybe It's You

I see all the time quotes on how people don't leave bad companies, but bad managers.   Or I see people complain about their boss, because they ask them to work overtime, come in on their day off, or set high expectations.  Don't get me wrong I know their are bad managers and bosses our there, but is that really the issue?  Those people that complain about bad managerd, is it really that they have a bad manager or is the problem them?

I started to think back at all of my former managers, supervisors, and bosses over my almost 30 years in the workforce.   I would say that I've had around 60 bosses that were 1, 2, or 3 levels above me that I could honestly evaluate their management and leadership.  Out of those 60 I would say 5 were bad and I really didn't gain anything from that relationship except how not to manage.  Another 5 were very good at the beginning, but something happened at the end to ruin the relationship.  But even those 5, I would say I still learned from them and gain valuable experience.   Fact is the vast majority of my former managers, supervisors, leaders, and bosses have all been good, very good, or great.  Many I have even come back to work for after leaving, worked for at another company, and/or still have really good relationships with to this day.  And some are now people I call friends.  

And while I'm not going to say I'm the greatest manager, leader, or boss ever I would say 80% to 90% of the people that have worked for me in the past would call me a good boss.   The ones that wouldn't were usually the ones I had to hold accountable for attendance, performance, or behavioral issues.   

My point is if most of us were honest we all usually have good bosses.  We like to complain about our boss as that is just something people do.  But people who really think they have a bad boss should first look at themselves in the mirror.  Are you coming to work on time?  Are you ready to work when you get there?  How is your job performance?  Are you meeting your goals and deadlines?  Do you offer to work extra to help the team?  Do you complain when asked to work overtime?  How is your attitude?  Do your other team members actually enjoy working with you?  How are you at taking direction?

Before you start to blame your boss for why you don't like your job ask yourself how could you make the job better.  If you want to be promoted ask yourself what you could do to go above and beyond what is expected?  If you want to make more money what do you need to improve on to be worth more.  It is easy to blame others for when you aren't where you want to be.  But a lot harder to look at yourself and say what can I do.