How to Fire the World’s Worst Boss

Seth Godin’s blog post “The World’s Worst Boss” really got me going! His message is that we’re our own bosses and we’re likely doing a terrible job – we waste time, demotivate ourselves and are horrible at developing ourselves.

So here are 5 tips to help you fire the World’s Worst Boss and hire a better one!

1)      Fire The Board of Directors first. These are the virtual board of directors that sit in your head and complain about everything you do or are remotely thinking of doing. They sit and nag, put you in analysis paralysis and tell you “I told you so”. Instead, hire yourself a more supportive board. Yes, defy what they say about boards being too “friendly”. Hire a board that loves you, gives you the confidence to pursue your dreams, and gives you lavish bonuses on top of that!!

2)      Focus on “Me First” – Yes another rule to defy. You can’t take care of others if your cup is not full…of energy, passion, drive, dreams, ideas. Take time to nurture these. How much time do you spend thinking about how to motivate others? What if you figured this out for yourself? Figure out what motivates you and then use this info to your advantage – shamelessly!

3)      Figure Out Your Script – Each of us has a story, mostly about ourselves. It’s how we choose to see the world and interpret what happens. It’s the stuff we don’t know that bites us. Figure out the script. Decide if it serves you. If it does not switch to a different script. It will motivate you to move forward with greater confidence and energy!

4)      Switch the mindset to 100% Accountability – Stuff happens. What matters is how you respond to it. Stop whining and placing blame. You’re in charge. Make it happen!

5)      Reallocate Time – Focus on what matters now. How much time do you spend thinking and planning 5 years into the future, pretending that it will turn out exactly according to forecast?  Spend more time in the present making that work really well and the future will be created out of the working well of the present.

This article was written by Henna Inam, C-level executive coach, global speaker, and author of the book Wired for Disruption. She helps leaders grow their agility to be a force for good and thrive in times of change. They create organizations that drive breakthroughs in innovation, growth, and engagement. In roles including Head E-Innovation and Chief Innovation and Marketing Officer, Henna drove transformation throughout her 20-year corporate career as an executive with Fortune 500 companies. Join the thousands who follow her blog here. Connect on Linkedin.