If you are a bad employer, you will hire bad people!

A bad boss is really every employee’s worst nightmare. Unfortunately, a senior title does not mean that person is necessarily suited to the role and is a good leader.

Managing people, requires different personality traits to being the ‘best at sales’ or ‘having a commercial mindset’ – and yet in many businesses these ‘successful’ employers get promoted to managing a team, when really their skill set doesn’t suit it. And then it is doom and gloom for everyone.

We’ve all heard the saying “employees leave Managers not companies”.

Employees want to work for someone they respect and trust. Great Managers should inspire and motivate their staff to be the very best they can, ensuring productivity and morale is high.

If you are a terrible boss, nobody is going to WANT to work for you or give you their best or enjoy what they do. Resentment will build up creating low morale and bad output and eventually staff turnover will be high.

And to add more bleakness to this rather unconventional topic, we also explore how terrible bosses tend to hire equally terrible people……

Bad boss, bad hiring decisions?

When you are a boss, your management style plays a critical role in your hiring decisions.

A terrible boss most possibly lacks the necessary communication and leadership skills to guide their team effectively. They then may struggle to articulate their expectations or provide clear direction. Hiring equally inept individuals could become a coping mechanism – after all, if a boss can’t communicate effectively, why should they expect their employees too?

A terrible boss may harbour feelings of inadequacy, insecurity or even frustration and inadvertently, seek solace in hiring people who mirror their own shortcomings.

A terrible boss may find it intimidating to hire individuals who possess exceptional skills and talents, which could make them feel threatened and expose their own weak shortcomings.  They do not want to be outshone by ‘better employers’ who could also pose a risk to their authority.

A terrible boss may create a culture that normalises mediocrity. By surrounding themselves with low talent, they are reinforcing the notion that average performance is acceptable, creating a stagnated team with no impetus for growth or excellence.

A terrible boss could also create a toxic work environment by being negative, gossipy, or overly critical, and here are likely to hire people who thrive in such an environment.

Bad hiring decisions leads to low engagement, declining productivity, and higher turnover – which will impact the entire organisation.

It is essential for bosses, regardless of their levels of competence, to recognise the importance of hiring individuals who compliment their strengths and compensate for their weaknesses. Embracing diversity, encouraging growth, and fostering a culture of excellence will undoubtedly lead to a more successful and fulfilling work environment.

Don't be a bad boss!