As an Executive Assistant (EA), you play a pivotal role in the organisation, ensuring operations run smoothly and enabling your executive to focus on strategic priorities. However, with this responsibility often comes the challenge of managing different personality types and leadership styles.
While many executives are supportive, some display toxic management traits that can make your job even more demanding.
Time to play "Toxic Boss Bingo" and start turning those traits into workplace wins!
1. The Micromanager: The Helicopter Boss
This boss hovers over everything, overseeing every single task and leaving little room for you to work independently. They need to control even the tiniest details, which can stifle your efficiency and creativity.
How to deal with: Earn their trust by being proactive. Provide regular updates before they ask, and show consistent, high-quality work. Gradually, they’ll begin to realise you can manage on your own without constant supervision.
2. The Ghost: The Elusive Executive
This executive is never around. They’re constantly travelling, in meetings, or simply unavailable, leaving you to figure out important tasks and decisions with little to no guidance.
How to deal with: Learn to anticipate their needs by observing patterns in their work habits. Set up regular check-ins (weekly or bi-weekly) and confirm their preferred communication channels. Become skilled at managing up, and seek clarity from other departments when needed.
3. The Volcano: The Emotional Eruptor
This boss can explode into rage without warning, turning small issues into major outbursts. You never know what might trigger them, so working for them can feel like walking on eggshells.
How to deal with: Stay calm and composed during their outbursts, and don’t take it personally. Once they’ve calmed down, follow up with clear communication and solutions. Set boundaries by calmly stating that you work best in a calm, collaborative environment.
4. The Credit Hog: The Fame Stealer
This executive loves to bask in the glory of your hard work. Whether it’s a project or a great idea, they’re more than happy to take all the credit, leaving your contributions unrecognised.
How to deal with: Document your achievements and contributions professionally. Send follow-up emails that summarise your work on projects and ensure a record of your involvement exists. This can help when recognition is needed, and subtly makes others aware of your efforts.
5. The Overloader: The Task Dumper
This boss continually piles on work without considering your current workload. Their never-ending requests can easily lead to burnout if not managed effectively.
How to deal with: Prioritise tasks and clarify deadlines. Politely ask, “I’m working on X and Y; which would you prefer I prioritise?” This way, the responsibility of sorting priorities shifts back to them, giving you space to manage your workload more effectively.
6. The Mood Swinger: The Jekyll-and-Hyde Executive
One day, they’re praising you, and the next, they’re distant and dismissive. Their unpredictable behaviour can leave you feeling anxious and off-balance, never quite knowing where you stand.
How to deal with: Keep a steady, professional attitude, regardless of their changing moods. Over time, they’ll likely appreciate your consistency. During their more positive moments, reinforce the value of stable communication and constructive feedback to potentially minimise future mood swings.
7. The Perfectionist: The Impossible Standard Setter
This boss is never satisfied with “good” or even “great”—they demand perfection every single time. Their impossible standards can leave you feeling like your work is never good enough, creating constant pressure.
How to deal with: Understand which tasks truly need perfection and which ones are less critical. Offer drafts or early versions for review to get feedback before investing too much time in perfection. This approach saves time and helps you hit the mark more efficiently.
8. The Boundary Breaker: The 24/7 Boss
This executive doesn’t recognise work-life boundaries. They expect you to be available at all hours, sending emails or texts late at night or over the weekend, and wanting immediate responses.
How to deal with: Establish boundaries early on, politely but firmly. Let them know your preferred hours of availability and, if necessary, offer alternatives like scheduling apps or task management tools to ensure communication happens during working hours.
9. The Gossip: The Office Politician
This executive thrives on office drama and loves to involve you in it. Whether it’s spilling the latest gossip or getting you involved in back-channel communications, they put you in an uncomfortable and precarious position.
How to deal with: Stay neutral and professional. Deflect gossip with statements like, “I prefer to focus on the task at hand.” Protect confidential information and don’t get drawn into conversations that could compromise your position or relationships with colleagues.
10. The Visionary: The Dreamer Without a Plan
This executive is full of big ideas but lacks the ability to break them down into actionable steps. You’re left with vague instructions and expected to turn their ambitious dreams into reality.
How to deal with: When given a grand idea, ask clarifying questions like, “What’s the main objective?” or “Which part is the top priority?” Helping them organise their thoughts into actionable steps will not only help you but also make their vision more achievable.
Bonus Toxic Trait: The Profanitator: The Unfiltered Executive
This boss loves to drop a string of expletives at the slightest inconvenience, making the office environment feel more like a pub brawl than a professional workspace. Their language can be inappropriate and make everyone uncomfortable.
How to deal with: Stay professional in response. If the language is directed at you or if it crosses the line, politely remind them that you work best in a respectful environment. Sometimes a calm, “Is everything alright? It seems like something might be bothering you,” can diffuse the situation without confrontation.
Bonus Toxic Trait: The Politically Unaware: The Clueless Conversationalist
This executive has little awareness of cultural or social sensitivities, often making offhand comments or jokes that might be considered offensive or inappropriate in a professional setting.
How to deal with: If they’re unaware of the impact of their words, gently bring it up in private. “I’m not sure if you’re aware, but some people might find that remark uncomfortable.” If this behaviour is recurring, documenting it and discussing it with HR may be necessary to ensure a more inclusive workplace.
So, how many of these toxic traits do you recognise in your boss?
Time to play "Toxic Boss Bingo" and start turning those traits into workplace wins!
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