Working under a Good Boss is a Recipe for Disaster

"New York's bestsellers" and self-prophesied leadership coaches have continuously conditioned and deceived our minds into believing that working under a good boss is a sure-shot road to succeed. A textbook definition of a good boss is someone who advocates work-life balance, doesn't hoard information, always respects the team, adopts the highest level of ethics and is unbiased when it comes to rewards and recognition. Working under such a dream boss is considered the gateway to a peaceful life, cemented with a decent hike and a guaranteed cyclic promotion. In reality, such ideologies aren't even remotely true; successful leaders have historically demonstrated that if there ever was a common chord binding them together, it's their scant regard for such textbook blasphemies.

Global iconic leaders have been the classic iconoclast of such leadership principles. Jesus Christ, in his period, was branded as an anarchist who challenged and questioned the foundation of accepted beliefs and systems. His disciples went into hiding and were treated as outlaws. Zooming straight to the 20th century, Steve Jobs's mercurialness and his reality distortion field with endless diatribes, Sam Watson's insane demanding work culture, Jeff Bezos's frugal employee benefits and Elon Musk's incessant Twitter tantrums are unacceptable notions of a "Good Boss". Yet, when it comes to the results, each of these leaders has hit the ball out of the park. Over one-third of this planet's population embraces Christianity. Steve's approval rating among Apple employees was over 90% and there is a phalanx of brilliant minds craving to work at Apple, Walmart, Tesla and Amazon. So, purely by the results, the so-called "not-so-good bosses" are more successful and likeable?

Instead of focusing on specks in others' eyes, let's focus on the plank in our eyes. Assume you had two bosses - one super good and another super annoying - and both requested a report the next day. If you are constrained to satisfy only one, which one will you choose? 90% of the time, it would be the super annoying or the bad boss's request that gets honoured. You are not alone. Most of us mimic the same action for fear of getting reprimanded and castigated in front of a bigger audience. Dealing with a demanding boss coerces you to develop the resilience and coping skills that you require in your life - professional or otherwise. Also, a bad boss seldom provides clear direction or support, forcing you to be self-sufficient and develop new winning skills. I am not trying to glorify such eccentric behaviours; natural growth does occur under customary leaders, but the pace differs drastically and dramatically. Remember, whenever you hopped jobs with decent pay hikes and level elevation, it's directly attributable to your lousy boss. Those long-timers who continue working under the shades of the good ones are deeply saddled in their comfort zone, watching others take wings and transcend to the next orbit. So, isn't it logical to conclude that such eccentric bosses practically command more respect, driving insane productivity and helping us gain new skills while vehemently shaking us out of our comfort zone?

Yes, in the traditional sense, a bad boss is toxic and unsupportive, but have you ever seen a sapling sprouting under the sprawling shades of a banyan tree? Germinating seed needs direct sunlight and not an ever-protective shade. The struggle that a larva undergoes during metamorphosis is immense, but that pain results in the colourful wings of a butterfly. Struggles and success are intrinsically woven into each other. Even when we come into this world, we do so with the loudest thud and strongest scream first and later learn to smile; this law of nature remains relevant for every new growth in our professional lives. Rapid progress occurs when we are tested in the crucible of a demanding time under an eccentric boss. So, next time you have a terrible boss, don't fret about it. Most often, we don't get to choose our bosses, and we usually get a "not-so-great" one. So, consider it bliss for your elevation to the next prosperity quadrant. Good bosses are rare species and are like wayside refuelling stops for a weary traveller to rest and relax, don't make them your final destination.