Home topics small-business-resources managing Advice Managing Advice Don’t be the boss everyone hates Cassandra Lane September 6, 2012 We have all had a boss who thought that the definition of motivation was to combine acerbic tongue-lashings with threats of job loss, poor performance reviews or just plain public ridicule. Here’s how not to be that manager in the eyes of your staff. In fact, a 2007 survey by Zogby revealed that 72 percent of workplace bullies were actually bosses who heaped abuse on their direct reports. But how effective is this type of ‘motivation’ in the workplace? Workplace jerks According to Bob Sutton, author and supporter of evidence-based management, not very. “You cant be a great boss if you don’t keep your inner jerk in check” says Sutton in his book ‘Good Boss, Bad Boss’. He continues, “Bullies do collateral damage as well, provoking anxiety, despair and withdrawal among employees who witness their nastiness. The 2007 Zogby survey suggested that when the impact on victims and witnesses are combined, bullies have driven over 20 million U.S employees from their jobs.” Those that do stick it out in negative work environments can hardly be described as motivated either. In fact, Wayne Hochwarter and Samantha Engelhard’s survey of 180 employees found that those with abusive bosses were five times more likely to admit to slowing down or making errors on purpose. Disgruntled employees The effects of poor management techniques extend to outside of the workplace as well. A study by Lynn Taylor