Nice organizational insight: Yes, in theory the higher up managers should do something about the bad boss, but they don't know there is a problem, and a conflict is hard to solve, since you don't know who is to blame (and tend to side with the boss, because he is more like yourself, and you probably know him better)
High turnover, on the other hand, is a good signal of failed management, and if you can find another job, then you'll probably do better that way.
When the higher-up managers are the problem, there's generally little hope except to leave. I worked someplace that had about 50% of the dept leave in a 9 month period (I was part of the 50%) - towards the end of that period it was harder for people to not get the signal that there was a leadership/management problem, and the owner eventually stepped in, but not until a lot of damage was done.
> High turnover, on the other hand, is a good signal of failed management, and if you can find another job, then you'll probably do better that way.
There your right. But a non existant turn-over tends to be a sign for an unflexible and counter-innovative bureacratic culture. Or a good working climate. Hard to tell from the outside. And once you're in and can tell, well it could already be too late!
Comments
Nice organizational insight: Yes, in theory the higher up managers should do something about the bad boss, but they don't know there is a problem, and a conflict is hard to solve, since you don't know who is to blame (and tend to side with the boss, because he is more like yourself, and you probably know him better)
High turnover, on the other hand, is a good signal of failed management, and if you can find another job, then you'll probably do better that way.
When the higher-up managers are the problem, there's generally little hope except to leave. I worked someplace that had about 50% of the dept leave in a 9 month period (I was part of the 50%) - towards the end of that period it was harder for people to not get the signal that there was a leadership/management problem, and the owner eventually stepped in, but not until a lot of damage was done.
> High turnover, on the other hand, is a good signal of failed management, and if you can find another job, then you'll probably do better that way.
There your right. But a non existant turn-over tends to be a sign for an unflexible and counter-innovative bureacratic culture. Or a good working climate. Hard to tell from the outside. And once you're in and can tell, well it could already be too late!