Hello Reader,
Happy New Year! Yes, it’s a fresh start, a reset, a clean slate… but we’re going to skip the “new year, new you” lecture.
Instead, we’re talking about something that quietly ruins weekends, holidays, and sleep: toxic bosses.
Because sometimes you love your job — even the company — and then your boss shows up and your eye starts twitching. (Also: hopefully you aren’t one. If you are… consider this your gentle warning label.)
The 3 types (and what they look like)
1) The Micromanager
Core move: Control disguised as “support.”
What it looks like:
- Constant check-ins and “quick updates”
- Wants to be copied on everything
- Re-does work instead of trusting it
- Withholds autonomy (and sometimes access to meetings/info)
2) The Narcissist
Core move: The world (and your work) revolves around them.
What it looks like:
- Needs constant admiration or attention
- Takes credit, avoids accountability
- Reacts poorly to feedback
- Makes most situations about them
3) The Bully
Core move: Fear-based leadership.
What it looks like:
- Uses intimidation (threats, sarcasm, humiliation)
- Constant criticism or public undermining
- Creates a “walk on eggshells” environment
- People stop speaking up or taking smart risks
A real-life snapshot
I have a friend who is in the thick of it with a micromanager. She’s a high performer — and honestly, I think her boss is threatened by her.
But instead of letting her shine (which would make the boss look better, by the way), it’s constant control: weekend “quick updates,” needing to be copied on emails, not inviting her to relevant meetings, nonstop check-ins.
Trust is the issue… but it’s the boss’s issue. And the scary part? This dynamic is going to drive my friend to quit a job she actually loves.
The Annoying Truth (and the empowering part)
You probably won’t change a micromanager, a bully, or a boss with narcissistic tendencies.
What you can change: your strategy, your boundaries, your paper trail, and your next move.
Want to Learn How?
Season 2 is getting loud.
🎧How to Deal with a Toxic Boss — Lynda Harvey (“Management Guru”) is live now
⚡Quick Lift drops next week (January 15, 2026) with the tight recap + tools.
👉 Listen here
👉 Follow on Instagram
👉 Watch on YouTube
And if you know someone who’s currently rage-walking around their kitchen because of their boss… forward this email. Consider it community service. 😉
Talk soon,
Betsy
