Are You a Bad Boss?

Look at your calendar for a second.

How many meetings did you show up late to this week?

How many "quick syncs" did you schedule just to check on that one thing you needed?

Most bad bosses don't realize they're bad bosses.

They're too busy being "visionaries" to notice the damage they're doing.

Here are four signs you might be one of them:

1. You're treating 1:1s like status updates.

   Those precious minutes you have with your team? You're burning them checking on tasks YOU care about. Your team members aren't your personal task managers. They're humans who need your time and attention.

The fix: 

Make their time sacred. If you need a status update, send an email. Use 1:1s for what they're meant for: supporting your team's growth, removing obstacles, and actually listening to what they need from you.

2. You're the "need something" boss 

   You know the type. Radio silence for weeks, then suddenly - ping! - they need something. Your team isn't a vending machine. If you only show up when you need something, you're telling them loud and clear: "You only matter when you're useful to me."

The fix:

Build relationships when you don't need anything. Stop by (virtually or physically) just to check in. Ask about their weekend. Share what you're excited about. Be a human first, boss second.

Your team is building a paper trail

When people feel the need to document every single achievement, they're not being thorough - they're protecting themselves. From you. Think about that.

Excessive documentation isn't thoroughness, it's fear. Fear that their work won't be noticed, valued, or remembered. Fear that when review time comes, you'll have forgotten everything they've done.

The fix: 

Pay attention. Keep notes. Recognize good work in the moment. Make it clear that you see and value their contributions without them having to wave a flag every time they do something right.

You're chronically late to meetings 

Message received: "My time is more valuable than yours." Every minute you make someone wait is a minute you're saying, "I don't respect you."

It's that simple.

And no, sending a quick "running 5 min late!" message doesn't make it better. It just means you're predictably disrespectful.

The fix: 

Show up.

On time.

If you can't, don't schedule the meeting. Your calendar isn't more important than your team's.

Being a boss isn't about having power.

It's about being of service to your team.

The real irony?

The behaviors that make you feel like a "busy, important boss" are the exact same ones that make you a bad boss.

If you recognized yourself in any of these, don't beat yourself up.

Just fix it.

Start tomorrow.

Actually, start today.

Yallah Habibi,

Jon

P.S. If you're wondering whether this email is about you, it probably is.