At Work with The Ready 34. Even More Bad Bosses and How to Defeat Them, P2
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Oct 6, 2025 Dive into the world of bad bosses and discover the archetypes like the Ghost—always elusive when decisions are due—and the Self-Promoter, who steals the spotlight and credit for others’ work. Explore why these dysfunctions are often rooted in organizational pressures. Learn effective tactics to deal with these challenges, from scheduling visible check-ins to making contributions public. Delve into the shared traits of bad bosses and discover when it’s time to prioritize self-preservation over staying in a toxic work environment.
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Bad Bosses Are Systemic
- Every bad boss is adapted to the system that put them in power and those systems repeat bad behavior.
- Recognizing system incentives explains why dysfunctional leaders are common across organizations.
The Elusive Ghost Boss
- Sam and Rodney describe the Ghost boss as hard to find, slow to respond, and hands-off.
- The Ghost talks about empowering teams while avoiding decisions and presence.
Make The Ghost Visible
- Force visibility and loop the Ghost into decisions by explicitly putting their name on items and asking for sponsorship.
- Create boss-shaped holes so the Ghost feels compelled to show up or reveal absence.