Do you like your boss?

[offwego]

most of my bad bosses were males, but I've had some winner female ones as well.

I'd say it's not screaming etc (thank goodness!) but poor communication each and every time.

Weird story? As a boss I had to issue letters of warning for quality control..eventully those employee's and I worked together to create checks/balances to reduce errors and they all agreed I was a great boss despite that start. The key difference was they felt I addressed them calmly and professionally and offered solutions to keep them from repeating the behaviour we couldn't have..so much so that 5 years later (and about 5 hours away) one contacted me re her retirement.

I'd hesitate to say it's a gender issue, but would say it's possible that some (but don't know as it's not part of your question) are entry level managment which receives the least training possible, often manages fomer peers, has too much technical skill and not enough leadership skills. Anyone think that might be a part of it?

[BrerSchultzy]

Let me start by saying that I have the greatest boss in the world. She's brilliant, works harder than everyone else here, and is very well respected in our industry (and for good reason).

I will also say that the "meanest" bosses I've ever had were female...one of whom threatened to have me arrested for leaving early when my nephew was born...another flattened my tires when she found out I caught her husband stealing $500 of merchandise.
The most incompetent bosses I've ever had have all been male...and by a lot. My favorite story is of a boss at a bookstore I used to work at...he proudly acknowledged that he had never read a book in his life, because they were boring. And he is now a REGIONAL manager for that bookstore.
I don't know if this is a trend (I seriously doubt it is), but that's been my experience.

[BronxTigger]

How's the saying go? If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all?

I have more than one boss. One is great; the others are not the worst out there, but they could be a bit more professional, among other things.

[Tink&Goofy]

Right now I have the best boss I have ever had. I have worked for him for 11 years, and in that time he has earned my respect and loyalty. He is very demanding, and very much a perfectionist, but has earned the loyalty of everyone of us that works for him because we are treated fairly and with respect. We work in a stressful environment that requires alot of technical expertise, and yet he has built a team that would all say the same thing. Over the years we have become good friends too. He can retire in a year and a half (I have considerably longer to go). I don't know what will happen then. I have kind of gotten used to being treated like a real human being, and respected for my work. Based on the bosses I had before him, I don't think it is likely to happen again.