Nicknames Your Boss Deserves But You Don’t Dare to Use
Before you read this post, let me offer my apologies. I’m sorry.
Peter Brittle: Leads a team of head-nodders. Everyone dances around Peter.
Cindy Drivelsmore: This leader won’t stop talking, usually about herself.
Wayne Trout: Wayne flip flops on most issues. He’s close friends with Charley Cowers, who only comes out of the shadows when someone else is taking responsibility.
Rod Blockwell: Works to protect the status quo. New ideas are threats, unless they’re his.
Maggie Pokeford: She can’t stand the thought that someone knows something she doesn’t. She’s related to Chip Monk, who constantly stores nuts for a rainy day.
Paul Pisstorius: Loves to make himself look good and others look bad.
Rita Roseview: She believes the universe conspires to help her. She hangs out with Pamela Pixey whose sentences usually sound like questions. Rita and Pamela are irritating optimists who love saying, “Don’t worry. Things will work out.”
Bill Butts: His first word is usually, “But.” Bill makes people feel insignificant.
Dick Ostrichards: Dick is the only one who believes everyone likes him.
Harry Black: This guy sucks the life out of everyone. He and Harvey Ledbetter took vacation together in Sag Habor and had a great time.
Mary Frost: Turns a cold shoulder to people who can’t help her career. Mary enjoys lunch with Kissy Brown.
What nickname would you give a bad boss from your past?
Can you think of positive nicknames for good bosses?
El Chopo??!
Sent from my iPhone
LOL…thanks, Robin. The success of some leaders is really about cutting costs at the expense of others.
Lol. Those are funny, but some not so much…ugh!
There should be a bit of truth in humor. Thanks Steve.
Yes. Humor disarms us to receive truth. Thanks for your posts, Dan.
Dan had a Boss who was the CEO of two different large public firms. I called him the Cheerleader. As CFO whatever bad news I gave him about numbers or people issues, he would say That’s Great, Brad! I am sure you will fix the issue! Useless but cheerful.
Brad
Brad James
Thanks Brad. Boy I wish I had a boss like that. NOT!
Nice. A little humor to seriously start the day. I like it. One could play the substitute game with this list, leave the names as blanks and ask others to identify the appropriate person within their organization or business. It could be fun – but would it be productive? Now that one has identified the people and their bad traits – what to do about it? Be positive and do one’s best. Good post today, Dan – thanks for switching it up!
Thanks SGT. Great idea. I think I’ll do a test run on the Leadership Freak Facebook page!
Good afternoon SGTblewis2
I try and read all the comments to Dan’s Blog when I get the chance & just wanted to let you know I like & appreciate your responces. I find it ironic that the two of us, (SGT’s), typically share simular responces.
“Thanks for sharing!”
Respectfully yours
SGT Steve
The seagull. Flies in. Messes all over everything and then flies away.
Thanks Don. 🙂 Sounds messy.
What is really sad is that I know the name of the person this one attaches too. He never developed optimal leader skills, but the business is deep enough to overcome is shortfall.
this one made me laugh outloud!
Eeyore… don’t need to elaborate on that one
Ouch! Been there – done that. 🙂 Thanks Lynda.
I once had a boss who was really great to work w/ but his name was DickPyle…and I snickered far too much about the visual this created!
Thanks JA. You made me chuckle. 🙂 … Let’s hope Mr. Pyle doesn’t read this.
Good morning Dan;
I myself prefer to be referred to as, “His Royal Majesty Mr. Wonderful!” I AM ONLY KIDDING DAN, Mr Wonderful is more than appropriate… LOL
Here’s a few positive nicknames I’ve attached to worthy Leaders I’ve had the priveledge to work under, Mr. Consistancy, Ms. Marvelous, Captain Courteous, and quite possibly my favorite, “which I must admit was given to me”, Mr. Reliability.
Today’s blog is both comical and entertaining. On a serious note though, Nicknames are ‘generally’ given for a reason. Most are revevant either for positive rerasons, or negative. Here lies the problem with nicknames, once you get one, you often carry it with you for life. People can change, people ‘DO’ change, but raely do nicknames change. Hense, I can not explain the vast importance of establishing a positive reputation from start to finish. Otherwise you can spend a lifetime trying to repair your image, & there’s NO guantee it’ll work…
Cheers Dan
SGT Steve
Thanks SGT. “Mr Reliability” is an awesome nickname. Congratulations. “His Royal Majesty Mr. Wonderful,” isn’t half bad. 🙂
Dan;
True, but neither exact’s the respect and imeasurable admiration as “The Leadership-Freak!”
Just sayn’…LOL
Cheers Dan
SGT Steve
HAHA!
Shower shoes was a PM’s nickname of a multi million dollar construction project that could not hold on to a decision to save his life and thought second guessing was a virtue.
Roger that! (Sorry) 🙂
Dear Dan,
Giving nickname to a bad boss is about taking out our frustration. This becomes talk within group of people with similar thinking. When you give nickname, you also fear to express your feelings before certain people who are close to your boss. For someone, it is good name and for others it could be good name.
Generally nicknames are funny for bad bosses. People enjoy taking nicknames. And it depends upon the nature of activities, relations and nature of the boss. It also depends upon the language they speak, dress they wear or style they reflect. Nickname has its basis and it is sure that people enjoy and take out their frustration.
It is unlikely that people give positive nickname to good bosses. But people with positive outlook generally do that. They give nickname based on what they like, prefer or observe. Thus, giving nicknames depends upon our liking or disliking about the person.
Thanks Dr. Gupta. Your analysis is revealing. 🙂
BOSS spelled backwards is simply self-explanatory.
LOL…good one Dr. Scott.
WHY have I never heard this one before? Hilarious!
Justin Case – always has a backup plan and isn’t afraid to admit his first attempt failed
Wi Gon Nguyen – believes in her team and makes everyone else believe it too – great for culture
Hardy Trunks – accepts criticism well and remembers and improves
Ophelia Payne – worked her way up and relates well to subordinates
Thanks Rob. Glad you added some positive focus on this post. My favorite is Ophelia Payne.
Mr. A. Weathercock. He goes along the wind!
Thanks Ceejay. Thats a person you can’t depend on.
I like to hear my nicknames it tells what I am doing right and wrong. You are right sometimes once they are there they can be stuck. I had a chief who was called “CHIEF TALK A LOT”. As soon as his aircraft was off the ground he would start. Had a pilot that use to joke someday he was going to come back by him self and no one would blame him. He found this out and changed his behavior unfortunately the name stuck. What do your employees call you, it will tell you what they think.
“I like your response Walt & agree wholeheartedly.” One may, or, may not be worthy of the nickname they’ve been awarded, but once you get it, it’s hard to get rid of…
SGT Steve
Thanks Walt. You’ve added a serious note to this conversation. There is a bit of truth in the name people give us. (Perhaps more than a bit)
I had the pleasure of calling a friend and colleague (and client) Mentor. He is now my boss, and the best part is, his nickname really hasn’t changed at all. In fact, it’s expanded even more so than it was before. Not really funny, but significant and a blessing to anyone else who’s in the same boat.
What’s more, part of my ongoing life education now includes passing the baton so that I may hold this title myself in the future.
On the other side of the spectrum, here are a couple that I’ve had the displeasure of dealing with:
Cheap Skate – ’nuff said
The Ghost – Holding the title doesn’t mean you’re actually there and working…
The Socialist – Not to get political here (it isn’t my intent), but when an owner tells you that he won’t pay you or honor the contract you have with him because it wouldn’t be fair to the company, you quickly realize why political theory may not be the best place to implement business strategies.
Thanks Rian. I’m glad you joined in. The Socialist seems more like a snake in the grass.
Had a boss years ago who would lie when the truth would have better suited him. He was the only pathological liar I have ever met. We called him Pinocchio. Should have called him POF(Pants on Fire).
LOL … POF, I haven’t heard that expression in a long time. Thanks for the chuckle, Vicki.
The sad part is…. They all hold their share of truth and reality. The question is, as leaders, what have you done to change those perceptions? There are plenty of managers and supervisors out there that accept and even promulgate these nicknames throughout their organization. Leaders on the other-hand know the detrimental effects and thwart the current climate in hopes for change. Don’t just float with the tide, stand and be the difference.
Thanks Brent. LOve that you grabbed this subject and started pulling us into the future! We can whine or we can do something to make a difference.
Brent Hedden
YOU ARE DUH MAN . . . Well said, “Very well said.”
Thanks,
SGT Steve
Funny stuff Dan.
3 that come to mind are,
-Lapdog larry – agrees with everything, likes to get stroked.
-Busy Barb – looks busy all the time, printing posters and photocopying. Needs constant praise
Fake Freddie – makes out its all going to plan but constantly stressed and can’t make decisions.
On a positive side,
Leaping Linda- will jump any obstacle put in her way to achieve desired outcome.
Straight up Steve – tells it as it is, can offend but straight to the point. These guys are my favourite!
Thanks Troy. You gave me the image of a leaping over barriers with Leaping Linda. For some reason that one grabbed my thinking.
Ok, I need a little help with names for mine. I have three managers from the past.
1. This manager had a bad habit of talking to me like I were stupid while he spoke on the phone with his boss.
2. This manager had an objective of integrating two company websites after a merger to show the increased value of the integration and capabilities. He ended up just putting a hyperlink from one site to the other and called it done. Would Mister Minimum fit?
3. The last one had a habit of bouncing his ideas off of you expecting a positive response in return so you could see how awesome he was. This one time, I told him how his idea would fail in the long run and I sat and watched his face melt off. I was laid off four months later.
Thanks Darrin,
How about:
#1. Darrin Dumlock
#2. ???
#3. Gary Gladmore
Just a thought. I’m stuck on #2.
Don’t forget – A. M. Biguous. Has the ability to speak out of both sides of his\her mouth simultaneously. :>)
My ex-boss “Ralph”… no matter what happened, he “Ralphed” on everybody and everything…
former military boss Brackenridge was titled “broken bridge” for appearing to be clueless and unapproachable.