The Is It Time to Fire Your Boss image has a young business woman, looking confident, with her hands together, touching fingertips, in front of her. Behind her stands a scowling older businessman in a dark colored suit.

Is it Time to Fire Your Boss? 3 Questions to Ask.

You control your destiny. Not your boss. Is it time to fire your boss? Here are 3 questions to ask that could help you decide....

News flash: you control your destiny. Not your employer. Not your boss. You. So, is it time to fire your boss? 

“What?! I cannot fire my boss”, you may say. It’s all in your perspective. You may call it finding another job or you may call it firing your boss. The difference is how you approach the situation. 

Here are some questions to ask yourself before firing your boss….

1. How Bad is It?

Life is too short to work for bad bosses. So the first question you should ask yourself is: How bad is it?

 

Different degrees of Bad Boss Behavior™ help us measure our response. Let’s look at the bad boss behaviors as a scale:

2. Have You Given Them a Chance?

It can be difficult to think of your bad boss as a human with their own issues. Everyone has challenges we know nothing about. Therefore, before you fire them, consider this: have you given them a chance to fix their Bad Boss Behaviors™?

 

Here are some ways to help them improve their skills…

3. Do You Have Another Candidate?

Do you have another candidate in mind? Who would make a better boss? Chances are the grass is greener on the other side. Still, it helps to find the new yard before packing up your belongings for the move. Furthermore, if you’re in a leadership or people management role yourself, remember, you cannot lead what you need. Take this opportunity to ensure you’re ready to be the best leader you can be.

Is it Time to Fire Your Boss?

You are responsible for your career. Yes, many employers should take a greater interest in the career development of their employees. However, at the end of the day, they are stakeholders. You are the owner of your career. Only you can determine when the time is right to fire your boss. That said, based on the questions above, consider….

 

  1. How Bad? If only Nuisance Level, consider investing more time helping them be a better boss. However, if you’re dealing with a Bill Lumbergh, Ebenezer Scrooge, or Darth Vader, there’s strong motivation for termination.
  2. Given a Chance? If you have not tried at least a couple of the suggested methods to fix your boss, it may be worth doing so and allowing a little time for the practices to embed.
  3. Another Candidate? Your financial independence and confidence in your ability to find a new position will guide this aspect. If you have a solid potential for your next employer, it’s motivation for termination. If not, it’s a good time to start looking.

Wherever you find yourself on the spectrum, try this alternative perspective. When we think of our jobs as something we consider changing, we perceive ourselves as having less control. When we contemplate firing our boss, we take greater ownership of our careers and the decisions that effect our success, happiness, and even mental health*. 

You control your destiny. Not your employer. Not your boss. You. So, is it time to fire your boss? 

If you could use help with your career decisions or fixing and preventing Bad Boss Behaviors for your organization, contact us – we’d love to help!

* Mental health is a serious issue. Too few employers appreciate the significant impact their bosses have on the wellbeing of their employees. If you struggle with stress, anxiety, depression or other mental health issues, please seek professional help.

Share:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Ben Lichtenwalner

Ben Lichtenwalner

Ben Lichtenwalner is the founder and principal of Modern Servant Leader and Radiant Forest, LLC. He has studied and promoted servant leadership awareness and adoption for over 20 years. He is the author of 2 leadership books and has 2 decades of corporate management and leadership experience. His corporate experience spans CIO, VP, Director, and many management roles at Fortune 500, INC 500, and Nonprofits. Ben’s education includes a B.S. in Management Science & Information Systems from Penn State University and an MBA from Lehigh University. Ben's Full Profile Here: About Ben Lichtenwalner

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

The Thanksgiving at the office image is a brilliant orange background, with two women dressed in business attire, standing behind a beautiful, cooked turkey.

Thanksgiving at the Office

Imagine… Thanksgiving is over. The stuffed turkey became Turkey sandwiches, the stuffing will remain for weeks and you’re likely to run out of ice cream

Scroll to Top
We Value Your Privacy

This site uses cookies to enhance your experience. We do not share, sell, or lease your information for any other purpose.