Bad Bosses Come in Two Forms: Dark or Dysfunctional

“[These are] people who enjoy the pain and suffering of others—they’re going to be mean, abusive and harassing in daily life,” said Spain.

That’s not to say that there aren’t degrees in which these characteristics are displayed. Everybody exhibits these behaviors at some level, said Spain.

According to Spain, bad bosses, whether they’re dysfunctional or dark, can cause a great deal of stress to employees.

“A person’s direct supervisor is a lens through which they view their work experience. We think, in particular, that a boss can be an incredibly substantial source of stress for people who work for them,” said Spain.

Having this framework of behaviors that bad bosses exhibit can be the first step into fixing them, ultimately reducing stress in the workplace, said Spain.

“We believe that these characteristics are extremely important for understanding employee development and career advancement,” said Spain. “Understanding the role that these characteristics play in stress experiences at work is extremely important, especially since bad leaders can cause so much suffering for their subordinates.”

Contacts and sources:
Binghamton University

Citation:  Seth M. Spain , P. D. Harms , Dustin Wood (2016), Stress, Well-Being, and the Dark Side of Leadership, in William A. Gentry , Cathleen Clerkin , Pamela L. Perrewé , Jonathon R. B. Halbesleben , Christopher C. Rosen (ed.) The Role of Leadership in Occupational Stress (Research in Occupational Stress and Well-being, Volume 14) Emerald Group Publishing Limited, pp.33 – 59