According to Yahoo Finance via BusinessWeek, there are ten different types of “bad bosses”. The list is fairly amusing, that is, unless you fit into one of these descriptions! I’ve only chosen to list five of the ten, but if you’d like to read the entire article by Jeff Schmitt, click here.

1. Don’t Know Your Job- These types of bosses are the ones who are sort of out of touch with reality- the ones who tell their employees that they need to do everything (usually because their boss is simply clueless him or herself!)
2. Don’t Listen- This is a popular one. I can remember attending several meetings with my “superiors” in which they were more interested in sending text messages, emails and checking their Blackberries than they were actually interested in the conversations going on around them at the meeting! It would behoove you to pay attention to what your constituents are saying, this way you are well-informed about what direction your business is heading in.
3. Close-Minded- Part of being successful in the business world means being open to new ideas and ways of thinking. Just because you landed in a successful position based on hard work and other factors doesn’t mean that doing things one way, all of the time will yield the same results. Before shooting down an employee’s idea, set aside your pride and really hear what it is that they have to say.
4. Poor Preparation- Remember when you weren’t listening earlier? Well, now it’s come back to bite you. In a management position, every time you make unexpected changes, start hosting ‘emergency meetings’ or start subpoenaing your employees for last-minute workload dumps, your employees will be able to figure out what is going on pretty quickly. Poor management indicates poor preparation for the unexpected, which translates to your employees as “Start looking for another job QUICK because my boss has no idea what the heck he/she is doing!” Nobody wants to stay on a sinking ship, so get it together before there’s a mutiny.
5. Not Building Skills- As a manager, part of your job description entails encouraging your employees to broaden their outlook, push them beyond their comfort zones (but not too much), exemplify corporate values and focus on learning and advancing. No one likes to have a micro manager as a boss; but then again, no one likes to have a boss that is so hands-off, that your employees start to wonder whether or not they even work for someone.

In this week’s reading of Business Etiquette in Brief, chapter 2 discusses ways that men can look professional during a job interview or at the workplace.  Let’s take a look:

8 Common Fashion Faux Pas

1. Always wear a long-sleeved shirt with a suit.
2. Make sure that your shirt gives the appearance of having been professionally pressed.
3. Be sure that the tip of your tie touches the top of your belt buckle.
4. Wear socks that reach mid-calf to avoid showing a flash of leg.
5. When wearing an American-cut jacket (single-breasted), button up when standing or walking.  If your jacket has two buttons, button the top one.  If it has three, button the center one.
6. When wearing a European-cut jacket (double-breasted), button all the buttons when standing or walking.
7. Resole shoes with badly worn heels.
8. Choose leather or metal watch bands.

Other Items in Question

Fabric- When choosing a men’s suit, it should go without saying that 100% wool blends are usually a good choice.  To double check the quality of the suite, gently squeeze the material between your hands.  If it wrinkles when you let it go, you should probably think twice about purchasing it, since it may require more  maintenance than you’re willing to commit to.  Remember; suits should always look crisp!

Shirts- Long-sleeved shirts are the way to go when it comes to business with white shirts portraying the most formal look.  And although many men do not wear undershirts, they should.  Three reasons for this include:

• Keeps a dress shirt from feeling itchy against the skin.
• Preserves the shirt from perspiration.
• Gives added body to a dress shirt.

Ties- Ties should be anywhere from 2 3/4 and 3 1/2 inches wide.

Jewelry- Jewelry should be kept to an absolute minimum.  A wedding band, class ring or other non-gaudy ring may be worn on the ring finger typically.  Additionally, a watch that blends best with business suits is one with a basic black leather or metal band.  Plastic or velcro should NEVER be worn unless you’re competing in a sport outside of the workplace.

Jackets- Business etiquette dictates that a jacket should only be removed when the person who has arranged the business meeting invites others to do so.

Pens- Believe it or not, a pen can speak volumes about your confidence and ability and are often viewed as an accessory to your outfit.  Therefore, you may want to invest in a high quality pen to complete your image.

Criticism, like rain, should be gentle enough to nourish a man’s growth without destroying his roots. -Frank A. Clark

Whether you’re a web copywriter, an editor, a janitor or a musician, at some point in your professional career, you’re going to be criticized for the quality (or lack thereof) of the work that you do.  Criticism, even to the most seasoned professionals, is still a difficult pill to swallow and one that doesn’t go down easily or sit well with many of us.  The following are a few ways that we can learn how to handle criticism a little better:

1. Don’t Take it Personally- One of the most common mistakes that people make when receiving criticism from others is they take it as a personal affront or attack on their person. While it is true that there are some people who get some joy out of taking others down a peg, you have to realize that there is a difference between criticism that is intended to help you versus criticism that is intended to hurt you.
2. Let Things Cool Off- Immediately after you’re handed the “Criticism pill” and are trying to choke it down without water, give yourself some time to cool off.  You don’t wan to say anything stupid that you’ll regret later simply because you’re upset and defensive.
3. Assess the Situation- Look at the situation in its entirety. Perhaps the other person who is being critical of your work had valid reasons to do so.  In many situations, the feedback is genuine and useful.  However, other times it is not.  This is where it is important to be able to distinguish between whether or not the criticism stems from feedback or insult.  Ask yourself whether or not the person is insulting or bullying you.  Take what you can from what they’ve said and learn to ignore the rest.
4. Learn From It- There is a fine line between being great at taking criticism from other people versus simply allowing people to steamroll over you.  Being criticized by others teaches us alot about ourselves.  It allows us areas for improvement and also allows us to see others for who they are whether they’re being helpful or are simply bullying you.
5. All Criticism is Not Created Equal- Destructive criticism not only hurts one’s self esteem, but it can cause damage on a deeper, more pscyhological level, rendering a person less effective in the workplace.  This is why it is important (whether you’re the criticizer or the criticizee) to think critically about the situation before you say anything.

Other Articles You May Find Helpful:

• Four Positive Ways to Deal with Criticism- GoodlifeZen
• How to Handle Criticism: The Top 7 Tips from the Last 2500 Years- The Positivity Blog
• How to Handle Criticism- Copyblogger
• How to Handle Criticism- Stepcase Lifehack
• 3 Highly Effective Tips to Handle Criticism- FruitfulTime