This week The Couch?! searches for Britain’s worst ‘boss idol’. How do you become an inspirational leader like David Brent? What makes a good ‘bad boss’? How do you make an employee cringe when you speak? Does it come naturally or can you learn how to be the worst ‘boss idol’? Is it essential to have a catchphrase to become such a figurehead?
Believe it or not, Pop guru and X Factor judge Simon Cowell, best known for his caustic wit and cruel appraisals of would-be pop stars, has been voted in as the perfect boss. 50% of Brits rated him the ideal manager in a poll undertaken by Trust Medical.
Former Glasgow Rangers player and chef Gordon Ramsey came a close second, followed by comedian Peter Kay, fictional boss David Brent and the ‘I’m a celebrity’ winner Joe Pasquale.
The Couch?! team was alarmed by the results of this survey so have put together a top ten worst boss idols list.
Top ten worst Boss Idols
1.Mr Burns (The Simpsons)
Catchphrase: “Excellent…”
Springfield’s richest man built his atomic energy fortune from the ground up. very powerful evil man.
2.Ebenezer Scrooge – (Christmas Carol – Dickens Novel)
Catchphrase:”Bah Humbug…” Tightfisted boss who didn’t enter the spirit of Christmas!
3.David Brent – (The Office – TV Comedy)
Catchphrase:(where do you start there are so many) “AKA; vis a vis”. Brent sees himself as a friend as well as a boss, although his colleagues wouldn’t necessarily agree!
4.Alan Partridge(TV Comedy)
Catchphrase: “Knowing me knowing you A HA” “Smell my cheese you mother”. His assistant Lynn gets paid a fantastic salary and is very well respected by Alan – NOT!
5.Mike Baldwin (Coronation Street – TV Soap)
Without catchphrase but usually utters the following phrase frequently “you’re sacked!…”
6.Mr Brittass (The Brittass empire – TV Comedy)
No catchphrase but annoys the staff just the same with his endless fire drills, useless rules, regulations and disastrous problem “solving”.
7.Basil Fawlty (Fawlty Towers – TV Comedy)
Catchphrase: “don’t mention the war” manic control freak boss.
8.Ian Beale (Eastenders – TV Soap)
Catchphrase: not sure he has one but frequently utters the word “tough” when staff ask for something. Although we think he is mellowing in his old age.
9. Captain Mannering – (Dad’s Army – TV Comedy)
Catchphrase:”stupid boy” Pompous man who suffered from delusions of grandeur. These delusions regularly led to his downfall!
10.Gus Hedges (Drop the Dead Donkey – TV Comedy)
Catchphrase: where do you start? the man is dripping with management speak and buzz words? What an inspiration.
Post a comment below this article and tell us about your boss (Obviously don’t use real names for legal reasons). Who do you think is Britain’s worst ‘boss idol’? Do they appear on our list? Are there any female worst boss idols? Do they exist? Share your thoughts with the community.
Alternative sources of boss madness
Dawn-Marie Dart
Community Manager
mailto:ddart@sift.co.uk
4 Responses
Boss idol, don’t i just know it!
My boss is not in the mould of Mr Burns (never says ‘excellent’ about anything I do though!), his/her motivation techniques are not quite up to David brents levels (‘we’re all winners’is a current favourite) and she is not as clueless as Guss. In fact she is a pretty good boss to work for, except for one thing…. she is always singing.
I can only guess what Simon would say but she is a definite candidate for ‘boss’ idol.
Bosses I have had…..
Bosses who smile at your when presenting your ideas as their own……
Control freaks who just HAVE to know everything that it going on……
Those who deliberately withhold information so that when it a project goes slight adrift, they can step with that little gem that save the day…..
Who say “No” to things you want, until they actually realise the potential and then it’s their idea…..
Who “make suggestions” about your draft letters/report, but cannot write themselves…..
The Seagull manager……flies in, makes vast amounts of noise (expletives a must), deposits things all over and flies out, leaving you wondering what that was all about…
Bad boss comments
Umm, you could do it that way – means – Fool!
I’ll leave it with you – means – you are so going to crash and burn and I want nothing to do with it
What time do you call this? – means – I only got here 60 seconds ago myself but I want you to think I’ve been here since 7:30
Could I have a word – means – I want to have 1000 words with you most of them negative
Could WE have a word – means – you are fired.
David Brent – can your boss be your pal?
if he’d been my boss I would have had to have resigned – I think there is nothing worse then someone who is always trying to be your ‘pal’ afterall there not are they? They’re your boss, they rule the roost!
His constant jokes (usually bad), interference and social faux pas get right up my nose – I think I respect someone like Gordon Ramsey more – he’s cruel to be kind, he’s passionate about food and strives for only the best standards, Simon Cowell also plays the ‘devil’ card but I always get the impression with him that he’s faking it – I don’t really think he cares that much about pop ….