CRAP MANAGERS and how to survive them

[ME Lawrence]

CRAP MANAGERS and how to survive them is my new book about dealing with horrible managers at work. It is a light-hearted satirical look at all the types of managers and how we survive them. Everybody I know has had the unpleasant experience of a manager that has made their working life hell, which is why I wrote the book. Have a good laugh while you read about Hamish the health and safety manager or Mags the nit-picking micro-manager. You'll feel better knowing that other people are going through the same thing at work and all the managers are based on ones with whom I have had the misfortune to work. CRAP MANGERS is available at local bookshops (Rye Books and others as well as Amazon in both kindle and print versions).

[Jah Lush]

Hey! Good luck with this. Jeez! That's an excellent subject. We've all been there. I know I have. Never again will I work under such dickheads again. No sirree.

[LadyDeliah]

Crap managers are why I am unemployable and had to start my own company.

I would have ended up doing time for GBH if I'd stayed in some of my previous jobs!

[numbers]

The Peter Principle is alive and well.

Book looks great, will look out for it in local bookshop. Spent years with only excellent managers then I seemed to encounter an unlucky streak, experiencing a succession of insufferable tossers that I wouldn't* even want to have a drink with dahn the pub after work.

*(my measure of unbearableness, usually people have some redeeming features out of the office)

[DulwichFox]

Best way to deal with any Manager is to ...

1. Ignore what they tell you.

2. Do things your way.

3. Tell them you did it their way and it worked a treat.

They will never bother you again.

DulwichFox

[KidKruger]

Wasn't there a thread a couple of years ago covering management jargon ?

I think there were some classics in that.

[SCSB79]

LadyDeliah Wrote:

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> Crap managers are why I am unemployable and had to

> start my own company.

>

> I would have ended up doing time for GBH if I'd

> stayed in some of my previous jobs!

This suggests you had problems with managers (plural)... perhaps the issue was you, not the numerous managers?

[spider69]

I cannot be ars.ed to reply to this LD replied riding into the sunset on the pavement.

[uncleglen]

Funny this. I read a small book some years ago called 'How to manage people in 30 minutes' or similar. My manager at the time was doing the exact opposite of the guidance in that book (the guidance was very sensible) and so I realised why work was so annoying. The ironic thing was that my manager was obviously unhappy implementing some of the crap coming from above so I carried on doing things my way and got away with it for 5 years. Anyway, the powers that be then created a new layer of management with it's attendant admin so we were being micro-managed. I resigned. When you get to a point in your professional life where you are not allowed to be creative and have to do absolutely everything someone else's way it gets very stressful.

[LadyDeliah]

SCSB79 Wrote:

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> LadyDeliah Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Crap managers are why I am unemployable and had

> to

> > start my own company.

> >

> > I would have ended up doing time for GBH if I'd

> > stayed in some of my previous jobs!

>

> This suggests you had problems with managers

> (plural)... perhaps the issue was you, not the

> numerous managers?

I said I'm unemployable for a reason. I can't kiss arse or smile at people I want to punch. I hate being micro-managed by ego-maniacs, unless they are particularly talented ego-maniacs and then I'd suffer their crap to learn from them.

I've spent most of my life working for myself though and I seem to make a better boss than employee, judging by the loyalty I always get from the people who work for me.

[Margot]

Not all the managers are based on ones I have worked with. Although I have had a lot of managers due to working in the charity sector where people are on short term contracts. I envy you being your own boss and not having to put up with crappy managers. You're obviously a good manager which is why people are loyal to you. I do have a good manager at the end of my book - the kind we'd all like to work for.

Thanks for your interest

Margot

[Margot]

Well why don't you buy my book - then you can have a good laugh at all the crappy managers.

Thanks for your interest

Margot.

PS If you have any stories, let me know as I'm doing a blog.

[LadyDeliah]

Worth reading to help avoid becoming a bad manager!

[PeckhamRose]

"I've spent most of my life working for myself though and I seem to make a better boss than employee, judging by the loyalty I always get from the people who work for me."

That's what they cleverly allow you to think...

(Just kidding!)

Like the above I am self employed but when I was employed 26 years ago now I found the worst managers were the women, like something out of "Working Girl", I am ashamed to admit. Maybe it is different now!

[Margot]

Ha,ha insufferable tossers - that's a good description.The book's available in Rye Books and Chenier. Hope you enjoy it. What is the Peter principle by the way?

[Margot]

Excellent advice.

[Margot]

Couldn't agree more.

[Margot]

Hi Peckham Rose

No I'm afraid you're right. A lot of women managers are crap. We always have hopes they won't be, but often they emulate men with the worst characteristics like bullying, and even sexual harassment.

Margot

[ruffers]

Margot Wrote:

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. What is the Peter

> principle by the way?

People tend to get promoted to the level just above which they are competent for, then crash and burn.

[Robert Poste's Child]

To me this looks like a tired exercise in false opposition for commercial purposes a la Daily Mail, I have to say.

[LadyDeliah]

Re: female bosses, I've actually got on better with them than some of the pervy, patronising, ego-centric male bosses I've had.

Probably because they were all small to medium sized firms run by individuals who were also unemployable! I learned what I needed to and hopped around relatively frequently (from 6 -18 months depending on how much I could stand) to widen my knowledge and jump my salary up more quickly.

[numbers]

Margot - sorry didn't see your q earlier, ruffers got it in one!

LadyD - I really admire anyone who sets up their own business, really hardworking people IME. Never met one yet who had a day off sick!

There was a programme on the radio recently about a chimney sweep in Cambridge running his own business. He said he couldn't/wouldn't want to do "a proper job" but I was thinking "you already are, you truly are!!". He was excellent.

Similarly to you (and to my surprise I might add), I also got on really well with two of the only female bosses I've had. They were really supportive, ambitious and quite brilliant. Although I have had two fantastic male bosses as well so it balances out ;)

[Margot]

Hi numbers

What would you say are the qualities a good manager should have. Or at least the good managers you have had, what did you like about them?

[Loz]

I've had some great female bosses in my time. Has to be said that some of them, though, were a lot less welcoming to the female staff that reported to them than they were to us blokes.

[uncleglen]

Really crap managers alienate everyone. Mine came out with something today in front of me and a colleague and we just looked at each other in disbelief- hopefully he saw and understood the look- probably didn't though which is why he is so crap in the first place.