The Gap

10 types of bosses and how to work with them

10 types of bosses and how to work with them

The one person who can make you love or hate your work is your boss. There are different types of bosses that you will meet over the course of your career, whether you work a 9-5 job or you’re a contract worker who reports to clients, or even a freelancer. You will need to report to someone, and that person is technically your boss.

I know what you’re probably thinking: “But I have my own business? I am the CEO, the GMD, the GCFR; I am my own boss.” Well, excuse me, boss, where is your money coming from? Are you the one that buys your own products or services? No? I thought as much. A boss is someone who pays you, and since without your customers and clients, you ain’t gonna get no money, technically, they are your bosses. 

A healthy relationship between a boss and an employee is important, but such a relationship is tricky. Because even if you are the most amiable and hardworking of people, some people were just created… let us not use the word difficult, because that sort of boxes them into a particular category of unpleasantness.

Even the worst bosses have their good days, days when you can almost forget that they’re basically workplace Satans. And while some might not be problematic, per se, that doesn’t mean it is particularly pleasant working with them. Some are… just there, like warm water; neither hot nor cold. And you are definitely going to encounter a wide range of them throughout whatever career you choose.

Hence, I have taken it upon my benevolent self to help you identify the different types of bosses out there, the ones you are most likely to encounter, as well as how to work successfully with them in a way that doesn’t result in one party killing the other.

Jungle Rules cartoon

But first of all…

Who is a boss?

The short definition of the word boss is “someone who has important responsibilities within a company or organization, and also serves in a supervisory role for certain members of staff”. Going by this definition, a boss also refers to someone responsible for selecting, training, and developing employees, and ensuring that departmental operations are completed, and goals are met.

A boss is usually the last checkpoint for decision-making within a department, and they play a critical part in the overall success of an organization.

ALSO READ: 4 characteristics of toxic bosses and how to deal with them

Qualities of a boss

Decision making

A boss is someone who makes decisions in the organization, which means they should be good at it. The best managers should be able to make quick and effective decisions and see that they are executed, either directly or by delegating them to other staff members.

Problem-solving

The ability to solve problems is closely related to decision-making in the key lists of managerial traits. This includes the capacity to not only find solutions to problems but also to recognize when there is a problem in the first place.

Time management

Bosses are responsible for managing their own time and securing the time for others, which means that a boss with effective time management skills can keep both production and morale levels high.

Types of bosses

The Workaholic boss

Ever seen someone mix Bullet drink, vodka, weed, and Rephnol together inside a small punch cup? No? Well, I have (a story for another day), and the result was boundless energy. The kind of energy that can make you run at full speed from Ikeja to Mushin and back, and still leave you bouncing on your feet asking, “What next?” That’s the kind of energy that these types of bosses have.

A workaholic boss works long hours, sometimes on weekends, and never seems to rest. They’re the first to get to work and the last to leave, so much that you start wondering whether or not they’re Terminators from the future who somehow forgot their missions and just happened to be good in a corporate organization.

Workaholic Boss

Now, it may take some time and extra effort to keep up with this kind of boss, and at the beginning, you could even contemplate sending Sango after them when they call you at 2 a.m. to ask for yesterday’s meeting minutes. However, if you do manage to stay your murderous impulses, the payout can be worth it, especially when you and your team start reaching goals way ahead of schedule.

The key to keeping up with a workaholic boss is to find the perfect work-life balance, which you can achieve by setting clear boundaries so that work and home don’t interfere with one another in a detrimental way. Make sure to give 110% when you’re at the office with your boss, and then take natural breaks such as evenings, weekends, and holidays to rejuvenate.

ALSO READ: Types of personalities and personality tests

The Micromanaging boss

If your boss is the type that constantly follows up on every little piece of your project, then chances are, you might be working for a micromanager. They are very difficult to deal with, but unfortunately, they are also one of the most common types of bosses.

The Micromanaging boss

Micromanagers are often found in companies that are not fetching much business, and while it is sometimes comforting knowing someone has your back and is watching each step as you go, they might drive you crazy with a lot of daily work nitty-gritty. These types of bosses also have a tendency to offload their work on their juniors, which leads to high employee turnover.

To work with a micromanager, do your work normally while working with them. Be proactive in reporting status updates, milestones, or other details even before they ask. And if you can, try to be honest about what you think about being monitored so closely.

The Traditionalist boss

Traditionalist bosses tend to stick to old ways of doing things and prefer not to upgrade themselves. After all, they’ve been in the field/organization for years, and certain techniques have always worked, so why change?

Working with these types of bosses is not that difficult, because while you may need to work harder and apply more tact when thinking outside the box, traditionalist bosses actually provide a very secure work environment where few risks are taken. Under a traditionalist boss, you get to learn some great time-tested methods of solving common problems.

Hence, just work hard, say what you think, be receptive to their ideas and try not to antagonize or challenge them. Not all old ideas are bad!

The Squeezer boss

These types of bosses will give you projects and assignments that align perfectly with your area of expertise. They will help you become a pro in that area, and in so doing, boost your CV. In fact, in the beginning, you might even start feeling indebted to them, because it seems they’re helping you grow and become the best version of yourself.

However, it’s all a ruse. Squeezer bosses are scouts; they know what you’re capable of, and will proceed to squeeze every ounce of talent from you. They are no different from vampires.

When they inevitably ask you to work overtime, you need to tell them politely that it is hampering your work-life balance. Or, if you’re the kind that likes work and has no social life to speak of, you can oblige them and ask for a pay raise.

ALSO READ: 20 biggest companies in Nigeria

The Collaborator boss

Okay, enough on bosses with bad vibes; let’s turn to some that make work sweet, and none do so more than collaborators. These types of bosses are always seeking to have conversations that drive new ideas, set goals, execute projects and build healthy team environments. They are all about team relationships and are great to work with, as they have a lot of empathy and appreciate mutual care.

The Collaborator boss

Collaborator bosses are the types of bosses that most employees, especially Gen Zs want to work with, because they portray good leadership qualities. They excite their employees to work with them, because they do not exert unnecessary pressure. Most of the time, they don’t act as superiors, and they are easy to build rapport with, so you’ll have no problem working with them.

All you have to do is give your honest feedback during brainstorming sessions, and your opinions will always be welcomed and valued.

The Coach Boss

Coach bosses are another class of bosses who inspire positive working environments, as they motivate their employees to perform better. These types of bosses always set realistic goals and support their juniors to the fullest by guiding them based on their own experiences. They will check on you periodically, but also give you room to grow.

Coach boss

However, just like collaborator bosses, the percentage of coach bosses is quite low, when compared to the other types of bosses out there, hence, if your boss is such, you’ve landed a gold mine. To deal with them, all you need to do is be honest with them about your fears. You will benefit more from communicating with them; the best part is that they welcome queries and answer them with full enthusiasm. Also, own your mistakes, as this would be appreciated and indicate growth.

The Visionary boss

Visionary bosses are also one of the most common types of bosses and one of the best you can get, as they are self-driven, skillful and experimental. Their ambition and drive will constantly push you to put your best foot forward.

To work with visionary bosses, you need to listen to their plans and show enthusiasm. They usually know what the market will be like, and the plans you need to make for the future. They will also appreciate you if you come up with ideas, so be a team player and contribute as much as possible.

The Visionary boss

And as long as you get support from them, you shouldn’t be afraid to take risks, because these types of bosses won’t stop you from learning from your own mistakes.

ALSO READ: How Igbo apprenticeship system reduced poverty in Igboland

The Alpha boss

Some bosses got to their managerial positions simply because they are natural leaders. These types of bosses are the Alpha bosses and possess special character traits that often make them suited to lead a team. It may be their charisma, work ethic, authoritarian attitude, etc.

And while some might be pleasant to work with, others might be office place nightmares, behaving more like dictators and resorting to intimidation tactics.

Whatever it may be, in order to work with an alpha boss, you need to respect their leadership and soak in everything they’re willing to teach you. Just like wolves, the more you become part of “the pack,” the more they’ll take you under their wing.

Do not give these types of bosses excuses to yell or take fault with you, but if they do, don’t succumb to their intimidation tactics. And also, do not challenge their authority, because then you will definitely have a problem with them.

The Idiot Boss

Every once in a while, an idiot will make his or her way into a management position, thus further showing you that life just isn’t balanced. An idiot boss may be because they are underqualified, do not take the work seriously, or are simply idiots.

If your boss is an idiot, working under someone like this can be challenging. Hence, it is important to maintain a strong work ethic, because your boss will not pull their weight, and will probably blame you if things go sideways.

Idiot bosses are one of the worst types of bosses out there. Still, the good thing is that, unless everyone in the upper echelon is a collection of like-minded idiots, eventually, someone will notice something is wrong. And if you’ve been working hard despite the management, you may even get to replace your boss one day.

The Unpredictable Boss

If you have an unpredictable boss, then I’m sorry, but you’re on your own and only God can help you. Because these are the worst. These types of bosses lack consistency, and you can never tell how they will react in a particular situation; hence, they create a very unsafe and insecure working environment.

The Unpredictable Boss

You can convey this to the top management if it starts to get out of hand, but do not be afraid to confront them when their words do not match their actions. And if it turns out that it is a one-man business and they are the author and finisher, then, like I said, the Lord is your strength.

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A couple of unexpected turns in life found Jimmy with a metaphorical pen in hand, churning out content and living in his head so much that he knighted himself the Pen Dragon. He is also an avid reader, gamer, drummer, full-blown metalhead, and all-round fun gi
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