Are You a Good Boss or a ‘Bosshole’
By: 
What makes a good boss?
Most of us would say someone who inspires us, recognizes and acknowledges good work, someone who holds us accountable for our decisions and someone who is fair but sets a high bar.
It's very hard to find a truly good boss. Most bosses are mediocre at best. (Note to my boss, I'm not talking about YOU - I'm talking all those other bosses!)
And most of us get it, it is extremely difficult to be a boss in these harsh economic times, but it doesn't mean you get a free pass to be mediocre. The American worker is miserable- truly miserable and in need of some inspiration.
What better time than now for those truly great bosses to stand up and lead us to the promised land? A new book may help serve as the boss's bible.
"Good Boss, Bad Boss How to Be the Best ... and Learn from the Worst" was inspired by the reaction Robert Sutton got from those who read his blockbuster bestseller, “The No Asshole Rule.”
He got a boatload of emails, calls, and interview requests. There was something about that book that truly struck a nerve. At the heart of most of the conversations Sutton had was a recurring theme about the same character – THE BOSS!!!!!!!!!!!
Sutton says there’s a lot of hurt, anger, frustration and pain in the workplace and he wants to help make the work place a better place.
He's hoping to do that with "Good Boss, Bad Boss."Sutton is a great read delivering sound, actionable advice in a style that is easy to read. But don’t think that Sutton’s book is for lightweights – this book is only for those who are stuck with a bad boss and need help and for those who reallywant to stay or become a great boss.
As he puts it, “Greatness comes only through dogged effort, doing many small things well, getting up after each hard knock, and helping our people press forward at every turn. The best bosses don’t ride into town, save the day with a bold move or two, declare victory, and then rest on their laurels. There is no final victory.”
Click on the next page to read a special Guest Author Blog by Robert Sutton.
GUEST AUTHOR BLOG, "BOSSES ARE SELF-DELUDING"
Guest Author Blog by: Robert Sutton author of Good Boss, Bad Boss: How to be the Best…. and Learn from the Worst
Good Bosses Know What It Feels Like to Work Them — But Bad Bosses Live in a Fool’s Paradise
One thing that makes organizations dysfunctional is that bosses so often lack self-awareness. They're out of touch with their effect on their people and not in tune with what it feels like to work for them.
But is it really their fault?
Doing the research for Good Boss, Bad Boss over the past few years), I've come to appreciate why it's so hard to lead a team. This is a blog post and not a dissertation, so I can't tell the whole story.
But here are three of the biggest, and most deeply human, forces conspiring to make people in charge so clueless.
1. Bosses are, like everyone, self-deluding.
