This is now my favorite table from an old MIT Sloan Management Review piece. It describes how a boss’ behavior can be read from two vantage points. It’s brilliant! —JM
| OBSERVED BEHAVIOR | SUBORDINATE INTERPRETATION | |
|---|---|---|
| GOOD BOSS | BAD BOSS | |
| Gives critical feedback | Honest | Abrasive |
| Makes a unilateral decision | Decisive | Autocratic |
| Instructs work to be redone | Demanding | Impossible to please |
| Imposes performance metrics | Disciplined | Control freak |
| Works weekends | Driven | Obsessive |
| Sticks with a dubious course of action | Persistent | Stubborn |
| Ignores their boss’s advice | Self-confident | Arrogant |
| Gives unsolicited advice | Helpful | Meddlesome |
| Asks specific questions | Informed | Micromanager |
| Delays response to proposal | Reflective | Unsupportive |
| Does not punish a mistake | Compassionate | Spineless |
| Loses temper in public | Passionate | Temperamental |
| Manages by walking about | Empathic | Clueless |
| Breaks a promise | Opportunistic | Untrustworthy |
| Limits interaction times | Structured | Unapproachable |
And you can pair this with the “boss advice” page in the Design in Tech Report.