BOOK REVIEW: Good Boss, Bad Boss by Robert Sutton

You probably have a weak will-power. You also may be a pushover. Or a people-pleaser. On the same note, your friends and colleagues may think you’re a control freak, dictatorial, or annoying. In either way, you playing with power is like juggling TEN balls while the crowd is poking fun at your freak show.

You don’t need to be “The Big Guy” to read Good Boss, Bad Boss by Robert Sutton—for anyone who handles people, or wants to gain a reputation of a good boss, this is a self-help to soothe the power plays and find a balance between competency and humanity. Whether you are a teacher, doctor, lawyer, businessman, or even a mother—this book will be a sound and fun ride.

As a teacher, I once had a tough ride with classroom managing. Kids are kids, as they say, but I don’t want my class to fidget and throw flying papers around. My teenagers grab their phone and text while I teach.  On my first years of teaching, sometimes I give in to their petty requests. Vox Populi, Vox Dei is really a thing in classroom, by the way. Joke’s on me.

Now I don’t want to spoil the whole book for everyone, but if you want a takeaway, here’s some:

·         They look up to you. Get used to it. All your weird tendencies are being watched. Set the tone from the beginning—and set it right—because you will be under the microscope from this day on.

·         Be decisive. Apart from being well-informed, great bosses know that fear and uncertainty is contagious, and the whole team will be affected. If you take charge and give them a security blanket, even if there isn’t any, the team will perform better. Rule of thumb? Thou shalt not be hesitant.

·         Balance the power play. They say that if you really want to know a person, give him power. Good bosses know this, so they dance on the edge of overconfidence and humility. They know they are in charge; however, a healthy dose of self-doubt is needed to save themselves from arrogance.

·         Deal with the rotten apples. Destructive employees can undermine the performance of many good people. By eliminating the rotten apples, or strategically make them interact less with others, work relationships will be more humane, harmonious, and motivating.

·         Talk and Act. We all had that blabbermouth leadership, right? Good bosses understands the work they manage, so they act appropriately when need arises. Also, they make their commands neat, simple and repetitive rather than the incomprehensible jargons of smart talks with no action.

·         Shield your people. From petty jobs, unnecessary meetings, and time-consuming protocols—great bosses let the workers do their work. They empathize enough not to waste anyone’s time, or kill anyone’s productivity in the process.

·         Do the “dirty work”. Do not delay any painful decisions and actions that can hurt other people. Anything along the lines of issuing reprimands, firing people, or denying requests are all part of the work.

With tons of interviews and exemplary leaders to make each point clear, Good Boss, Bad Boss is a textbook for struggles in power play, with a little tinge of sarcasm and throwing shades. The tongue-in-cheek tone is apparent. Sutton clearly plays with his readers while informing them through the pages. After reading, there’s a bit of entertainment that stays (not to mention, you didn’t get too roasted).