Which Bad Boss Persona Are You Wearing Today?

Let’s be honest, most of us can recall a time when we worked for a bad boss. And according to the research we conducted for our book, we’re not alone: 99.6% of people said they’ve had one.

But here’s the uncomfortable flip side: If nearly all of us have had a bad boss... it also means that nearly all of us have been one, too - even if just for a moment.

Because for most of us, being a “bad boss” isn’t about malicious intent or toxic traits. We don’t wake up and say, “Today, I’m going to micromanage, avoid feedback, or emotionally vanish from my team.”

No, what actually happens is that we unintentionally start wearing what we call bad boss personas.

So instead of denial or defensiveness, let’s do something more powerful - what we encourage in our leadership workshops: Let’s notice them. Understand them. And then… do something about them.

4 Steps to Help You Step Out of a Bad Boss Persona

1. Name It to Tame It

We’re not ones for putting labels on people - after all, it often stifles growth and sparks resistance. That’s why we’ve put together the 10 most common "bad boss" personas. The goal? To help leaders recognise when things are slipping and pinpoint what's going wrong. Because let’s face it, if we can’t name the behaviour, we can’t change it.

And just to be clear, these personas aren’t about labeling people; they’re about identifying the behaviours that are causing the issues. 

Tip: Take a few minutes to familiarise yourself with the personas. What do they look like in action? Which ones do you slip into under pressure? Haven’t taken our free and confidential self-assessment yet? Here’s the link.

We call this the awareness and acceptance steps - knowing they exist, so you can catch yourself in the act and course correct.

2. Own It Out Loud

It’s one thing to spot a bad boss persona - it’s another to own it. No, we’re not saying you need to wear a name tag or t-shirt that says “Micromanager in Action” (although now that we think about it, that could be fun). But we are saying that acknowledging it - out loud - can be a leadership superpower.

Real-life example: I’ve shared before how my alter ego “Debby” would make appearances when I was wearing the Avoider, Hoarder, or Coercer personas. I’d jokingly say to my team, “Debby’s in the office - enter at your own risk.” Far from perfect, but it gave my team language, humour, and most importantly, protection from my unhelpful behaviours while I worked on changing them.

Bottom line: Own your persona. You’ll build trust, create psychological safety, and model humility in action.

3. Ask: What’s Really Driving It?

Time to channel your inner detective. When you notice a persona showing up, dig a little deeper:

• What’s happening around me that could be causing this? (External triggers)

• What am I feeling right now - fear, doubt, pressure, etc? (Internal triggers)

• Is there a pattern here?

• Is this response connected to something my employee said or did?

• What’s the story I’m telling myself at this moment?

Bad boss behaviours are often protective strategies - they show up when something deeper is being challenged. Understanding why is the key to shifting behaviour long-term.

4. Flip It: What to Do Next Time

Mistakes and slip-ups are human. What matters most is what you do next. Once the moment has passed, take a breath, reflect, and ask:

• What would my great boss self have done differently?

• What skills, support, or mindset would I need to respond better next time?

• What’s one practical thing I can do to step out of this persona and into a more effective leadership behaviour?

Example: If you wore the Micromanager persona today, ask:

• What was I afraid would happen if I let go?

• Did my team need more clarity or support - not more control?

Then flip it: give clearer direction next time, delegate with confidence, or invest in building the skills your team needs to thrive.

And Finally…

This isn’t about perfection. It’s about self-awareness, acceptance, action, honesty, and growth. The best leaders don’t pretend they never wear a bad boss persona - they just make a conscious effort not to wear it for too long. And when they do? They recognise it, own it, and step it up.

Want to know which bad boss persona you wear most often?Take our free, confidential self-assessment: Click here to get started.

Ready to take it further with your leadership team? Contact us as we'd love to deliver our innovative and effective leadership workshops to your team.