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Lessons from Worst Bosses

Written by: Jim Stovall

Article Overview: If you are one of the 85% of people in our society who work simply to receive a paycheck, you are missing one of the great joys of life. Much of our identity, satisfaction, and fulfillment comes from the work we do. In a strange way, work might be a little like raising a child in that if you take it as an overall process, it is an amazing experience; but if you simply take a snapshot of one challenging moment, it can be exasperating.

Lessons from Worst Bosses

If you are one of the 85% of people in our society who work simply to receive a paycheck, you are missing one of the great joys of life. Much of our identity, satisfaction, and fulfillment comes from the work we do. In a strange way, work might be a little like raising a child in that if you take it as an overall process, it is an amazing experience; but if you simply take a snapshot of one challenging moment, it can be exasperating.

There's a reason we call employment "work" and not "play." There are times you simply push through the process and do your job because you know at the end of the day, the week, or the project, there will be immense satisfaction in a job well done.

Many of the people who do not enjoy their jobs are dealing with bad bosses. Being a boss is far from being an easy job, but it differs from being an employee in one significant way. Employees generally receive negative feedback so they can improve their performance. Too often, bosses do not receive realistic and accurate feedback, so they continue to perform in substandard ways.

Bosses can be egotistical, tyrannical, territorial, petty, and abusive. Most of us have a real-life "worst boss" story from our past. In addition to being traumatic, humorous, and often tragic, these examples of bad bosses can be learning experiences for us all.

I'm in the process of writing a new book entitled 100 Worst Bosses: Learning from the very worst how to be your very best. You, my dear reader, can immortalize your worst boss by sharing their story with me to be included in the book. Please know that your identity as well as the identity of your boss and any organizations involved will be changed so as to protect the identities of everyone involved.

Simply go to WorstBosses (dot) com to share your story.

You will receive an autographed, advanced copy of the book if your story is included, but in any event, you'll have the opportunity to get the experience of your worst boss off of your chest.

If, as we have always been told, we learn from our mistakes, having a bad boss experience can give you a master's degree worth of life lessons.

As you go through your day today, be the best employee you can be, and help your boss be the best they can be, and don't forget to share your story to help us all be the best we can be.

Today's the day!

This article may be copied or reprinted compliments of Jim Stovall at Ultimate Productivity.

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Article Tags: fulfillment, jim stovall, learn from mistakes, productivity, satisfaction



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