Before Breakfast Surviving bad bosses, with Mita Mallick
Oct 1, 2025
Mita Mallick, a marketing and HR executive and author of "The Devil Emails at Midnight," delves into the intricacies of bad bosses and effective leadership. She discusses the impact of late-night emails and the importance of boundaries. Mita explores whether bad bosses are made or born, emphasizing self-awareness and feedback in personal growth. She shares tips for spotting red flags during interviews and suggests alternative strategies for dealing with toxic management, advocating for ally-building and proactive planning.
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Chasing Attention With Midnight Emails
- Mita Mallick chased a boss who only responded between 10 PM and 2 AM to be seen and acknowledged.
- She describes answering midnight emails to gain visibility despite the unhealthy rhythm.
The Second-Shift Email Problem
- After daycare parents often do a second-shift of email to catch up on work while parenting.
- Mita says leaders should signal acceptable response hours to avoid normalizing off-hours demands.
Delay Or Reassign Late Emails
- Delay sending nonurgent late-night emails or save items for scheduled one-on-ones and meetings.
- Pause and ask whether a message truly needs to be emailed now or can wait for a planned conversation.
