I have written about bully bosses a couple of times, but I never addressed the other end of the spectrum – wimpy bosses. While not as obnoxious as a bully boss, the wimpy boss can be exasperating in different ways. Let’s look at some of the characteristics of a wimpy boss and follow up with some tips in case you happen to be paired up with one.
I am reminded of the cartoon character “Wimpy” in the Popeye Cartoon, (I know I am dating myself – and as Groucho used to say, “If you’re dating yourself, you aren’t likely to have many children”). Wimpy was famous for the line, “I would gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.” That characteristic of postponing things is one of the hallmarks of a wimpy boss. Regardless of the issue, there are some bosses who do not want to face making a decision, so they ask for more analysis or more time. Eventually people get the message that there isn’t going to be a firm answer.
Another trait of a wimpy boss is that the person will not stand up for people who work for him or her. If upper layers of management perceive an individual incorrectly, the wimpy boss is going to be a “yes man” and not challenge the misconception.
Wimpy bosses do not hold firm to decisions made on principle. They bend with the breeze coming from on high and waffle when asked to take a stand on issues involving integrity. They are like chameleons and change colors to blend in with the background.
When a person is abusing other employees, the wimpy boss does not step in with strong action to stop the problem. Instead, problems are allowed to fester and well up because the boss has no strength or backbone.
What can you do if you have a wimpy boss? That is a really good question, because you are not likely to change this person. The weak habits are a form of self preservation, laziness, or just plain being gutless. No amount of coaching is likely to reverse a lifetime of bad habits in this area. If you are reporting to a wimpy boss, the best you can do is document your requests carefully and make sure you copy others, such as senior management or HR in on your requests.
Make sure the need for decisions have a date fixed to them and that a large number of people are aware of the delivery date. If needed, send reminders a reasonable time before the due date.
If you see some signs of strength emerging, reinforce the boss enthusiastically for taking action. It will serve to encourage stronger action in the future.
Lastly, training can help a wimpy boss learn how to handle difficult situations and also make more firm decisions. You may not be in a position to nudge the boss directly to get some training, but there could be indirect ways to let it be known that some additional seasoning would be beneficial. Each organization will have a different political hierarchy that includes not only the wimpy boss but also that person’s peers, manager, HR, and the Development Group. As an underling to a wimpy boss, you need to be careful how and when you point out opportunities for improvement.
Thanks for a very thoughtful post, as always, Robert. I once worked for an HR Director who was a nice person, but so passive that he let (or asked) the CFO to create the budget for HR … every year! Needless to say, getting him to “take a stand” — much less, to “take a risk” — in pushing items of importance up the hierarchy was virtually impossible. Predictably, the department was stuck in “learned helplessness” mode for many years.
My solution to “fixing” it was to resign after two years, to go to grad school full-time. I believe the situation wasn’t really fixed until they found a way to nudge him into retirement several years later. It was, though, a sad waste of years of potential solutions to organizational problems.
Michael B
Thanks, Michael. I agree that the best antidote in many cases is to go elsewhere to make a different path for your life. In your case you made lemonaid.
I see it as a real sign of overall organizational weakness or indifference when “wimpy” boss is allowed to remain at their post. Maybe in the days of command and control, from the top down management approaches this type of individual could remain – as largey orders got flitered down and everyone obeyed.
In today’s market economy and with a young, engaged and highly connected workforce – having a leader who challenges (and is not afraid to be challenged), having an advocate (who is not afraid to go to bat for their team’s ideas), and having a visionary (who is not afraid to do “new things”), is what allowes a company to flourish and prosper.
Companies who can’t recognize that and allow dead heads to remain will continue to see brain drain as their talent moves elsewhere.
My boss told me once that he had gotten as far as had in life by eating a lot of @#$%, he feared I didn’t have much of a stomach for such things, and I need to learn to keep my head down and my mouth shut. How’s that for a leadership style? His philosophy within the organization is to stay off the radar and don’t be noticed unless it is for something positive – don’t rock the boat. When he asks how soon something can be completed and we give him an answer, he says that ‘s not good enough and cuts the timeline in half, making it an impossible task.
“You’re on salary – do whatever it takes; this is not a 9 – 5 job!” He does not back us up or do anything to facilitate our achieving the goal; rather, he loads more on by making additional impossible promises every time he goes to another meeting or conference, which is often. (You told them WHAT!?!?) I am a project coordinator and “supervise” six other people, but I am not their boss – they report to him.
Find another job? I’m 64 years old with three years to go before hitting the silver (not golden) benchmark of having 20 years in the NYS Employee Retirement System (should it still be around).
Any suggestions?
Bob, I left a work environment after 28 yrs for numerous reasons. One being that many of the managers were groomed to be wimpy. Everyone loved it as long as the numbers worked out. When they did not, upper management came down on the managers that were there to mae things happen, and of course this immediately caused issues with the rank and file, because they were accustomed to wimpy. When the numbers don’t work, you do not have time to encourage or entice the employees, it usually eans you have to take immediate actions.
Many managers that I worked with told me the best way to manage, was to take the way of least resistance. This method allows the poor employees to become empowered over the very effective employees. This can work for years until an audit or a manager comes in that will identify non-productivity, large sick usage percentages and or bad customer service.
I rarely see wimpy bosses besing identified – thanks Bob.
Bob, there’s not hiding you hit the nail on the head. My boss possesses all of the traits you list in the article. A few more might be lack of strategic planning, attention deficit disorder and an unattractive ability to think competition and bullying among peers is a good way to get all sides to solving a problem – which never actually happens. In my case, he’s the owner and I’m the CFO the only recourse I have is to sweat out a bad economy and move on as quickly as possible.
I was pretty pleased to uncover this website.
I wanted to thank you for ones time for this particularly fantastic read!
! I definitely loved every bit of it and i also have you saved to fav to
see new things in your web site. I wanted to share
with you that, I bookmarked The Wimpy Boss | at Delicious so my family may
learn from it too. May I also reveal a word of advice.
Finding terrific video marketing could possibly
be extremely difficult. I find it most effective to talk with a a Great San
Diego Estate Planning Lawyers. Our staff of Estate Planning Attorneys San Diego are here to help you with all of your legal requirements.
Great weblog here! Additionally your website
a lot up very fast! What host are you using?
Can I am getting your associate hyperlink to your host?
I desire my web site loaded up as fast as yours
lol
I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own blog and was wondering what all is needed to get set up? I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny?
I’m not very internet smart so I’m not 100% certain.
Any recommendations or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
You can set up a blog fairly simply in WordPress. Someone can help you to get started. Get a friend who is tech savvy.
Bob Whipple: MBA, CPLP CEO Leadergrow Inc. http://www.leadergrow.com 585-392-7763 bwhipple@leadergrow.com
Your style is very unique compared to other people I’ve read stuff from. Many thanks for posting when you’ve
got the opportunity, Guess I will just book mark this site.
Just how much folic acid do you need to notice a difference in your hair growth.
Looking beautiful doesn’t have to be hard on your budget or the environment.
A number of would say that will sometimes they
rarely find time to rinse their hair.
The book the ‘The Weight Loss Cure’ popularized
and resurrected the HCG diet. As a dieter, if you
come across a particular flavour or herbal tea type that you especially
fall in love with, you can easily continue consuming it after the completion of your diet without having to worry about its effects on your
health. We know that today’s diet, lifestyle, and environmental
factors are considered to be the most important underlying causes of the
chronic disease epidemic, which accounts for roughly 75 percent
of our rising $2.
Orissa is in the process of working with group homes
of dysfunctional children. With the growing trend of online shopping,
more and more websites are emerging with quality hair care products for
sleek and shiny hair. This will cause the hair to stretch and
finally break.
Tom Ford becomes creative manager of Gucci during 1994 and he brings a sense of daring and provocation into the brand that resonates with celebrity and accomplished elite.
Albert Watson was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and he quickly established himself
as a leading fashion photographer. There is a certain type of fashion blogs content writing for which is done especially by prominent designers or their assigned group
of website content writing professionals.
Process Like Planning to moving, Packing of household goods and valuable belonging, arrangements of vehicles for transportation, loading,
unloading and then unpacking, rearranging the all household and valuable
goods. Full name of the company and DBA(Doing Business As) names, if any.
You will require plenty of boxes to put different items in them.
During the entire packing and moving processes, moving firms of Delhi NCR provides utmost care.
3G data card will allow to stay connected with the
whole world while moving from one place to another.
Again, the credibility and market reputation of Indianapolis movers ensure that everything, from packing to transportation, will be simple and easy.
Because we got so used with it, sun no longer is seen as a threat.
If you speak to Tortimer on any of these days, he will give you
either a sparkler or a Roman candle. You have to understand that you
need these considerations to experience a decent, if not, normal abortion clinic Virginia experience.
You stood up for the rights of all people of a great nation in combat, but unfortunately,
you must continue to stand up for yourselves to ensure that the promises of being taken care of upon your return are kept.
Is it possible that an ISTJ accounting major is more likely to become a CPA.
~ Relieving any person from liability to pay income tax ï.
You need to know not only which kind of investment
is the best at any particular time but also which sub-type with the investment category you should think and when in the
market cycle is going to be the most excellent time to purchase for you to become a successful investor.
You have to closely examine the area where you’re going to move to.
So pick Melbourne movers company that has a physical office with telephone line.
Wow! After all I got a web site from where I be
able to actually take helpful facts regarding my study and
knowledge.
I constantly spent my half an hour to read this webpage’s
content everyday along with a cup of coffee.
Wow, marvelous weblog structure! How long have you been running
a blog for? you make blogging look easy. The total glance of your website is excellent, as smartly as the content!
Everyone wants cheap bait these days but the big problem is that cheap often means rubbish.
I have been using products from Newfields Baits for a while and their green lipped mussel extract is
simply amazing. A camera and photo album are another way for
a family to record their boating trips.
I read this paragraph completely regarding the difference of hottest
and preceding technologies, it’s remarkable article.
More Bonuses
The Wimpy Boss |