Ah yes, the toxic boss. It has become such a common trope in media that we’ve had movies and TV shows about it. (The Devil Wears Prada? The Office?? Horrible Bosses???)

The only reason “toxic boss” has become such a common archetype in fiction is because it reflects what we actually see in real life. Let’s be real – who hasn’t had a terrible boss at some point in their careers? I’m sure we’ve all had to deal with some really difficult superiors, and regardless of where we work, there’s always going to be some higher up that grinds our gears.

But what if you’re in a position of power? It’s easy to believe you won’t end up like your experiences with a terrible boss, and fall into that cycle of toxicity. However, power, if left unchecked, can change even the most innocent and genuine among us, and that includes you.

So how do you know when you’ve crossed the line? Here are four signs you’re turning into a toxic boss:

1) No Respect for Work-Life Balance

Lead by example is what they always tell leaders to do. That includes putting in your fair share of the work. The thing about bosses is that they inherently have to do the heaviest lifting.

But too much of a good thing is rarely good – and this similarly applies to productivity. What you might consider as being passionate and enthusiastic when it comes to work might come across as being overzealous and exhausting to others. This is especially so when you set an unrealistic work rate that works well for you, but might be strenuous and frustrating for everyone else. If such mismatched expectations start to negatively affect your team, that’s a big sign you’re turning into a terrible boss.

Don’t be that boss who doesn’t respect weekends or sends emails at three in the morning. A good leader makes sure to factor in burnout and personal stress, and checks in to see if employees are handling too much workload.

So, when you get the urge to request for that late-night deliverable, draft it and schedule it to be sent or completed during work hours. When you feel like bothering someone on their weekend or their sick leaves, maybe consider enjoying the weekend or taking a vacation too. When you respect people’s time, they will respect yours and turn the workplace into a much more efficient machine.

2) The Not-So-Subtle Flex

When I started working, I had this one boss (who will remain nameless) that I absolutely hated. For all I know, he’s changed. But at the time, I hated his tacky gelled hair, glistening gold watches, and how he would always drive a Mercedes (because, as he said, the Lamborghini was at home.)

Years later, I kind of get where he’s coming from. You have money you worked hard for, and you want to flaunt it. There isn’t a problem with that. But when your employees are struggling to pay rent, and find the word “holiday bonus” to be a foreign concept, that just shows a lack of humility on your end.

The more you try to come at your employees with “subtle flexes,” the less it actually inspires them, and the more it generates resentment and bitterness. So, stay humble, keep that ego in check, and remember why you’re working, and don’t flaunt your wealth like Marie Antoinette or Nicholas II. Before you know it, you might have a French guillotine or Russian Revolution coming for you.

3) Does This Come with Instructions?

Listen, I understand that employees can be frustrating sometimes. There are times where less experienced people ask questions that seem so simple, or could be solved with a little extra thinking. And it’s totally valid to be frustrated about these things.

However, if work isn’t getting done because employees don’t know what to do, then maybe it’s time to look inwards or start questioning if current processes or ways information are shared are truly helping the team work better. Often, employees tend to get lost when bosses just give them mere handwaves and “figure it out’s”. And if those are the kinds of help you choose to give, you probably have no right to be upset when you receive work that is incomplete, uninspired or poorly executed.

As a leader, your job isn’t to spoon-feed, but you still have to guide and make sure things are on the right track. Otherwise, you’ll turn into that boss everyone’s scared or doesn’t find credible enough to ask for help from.

4) It’s Like There’s No Boss

Lastly, if you’re always absent, or if you never do the work, that’s one of the biggest and most obvious signs that you’re a toxic boss.

The bare minimum in showing solidarity and leadership is simply by showing up and being conscientious enough to do the work. You have to at least show your team that you’re one with them, and that you are getting tasks done too. Having a boss who’s uninvested or uninterested rubs off on the rest of the team, causing employees to become unmotivated and unengaged even faster. Your employees are going to be saying to themselves “Well, if boss isn’t doing it, why should I?” and they won’t be totally wrong.

So, make sure you’re present, available, and doing the kind of work you expect from your team. Show them the same level of kindness that you’d expect for yourself too. As long as you do this, you’ll be able to avoid being that bad boss that everyone loathes, and maybe even be labelled as a great boss.

To your success,

Mario

[Visit www.mariosingh.com now to enjoy a FREE e-book of my latest “37 Essential Principles for Massive Success” when you subscribe!]