Tamica Sears - How To Tell If Youre An A**Hole Boss

Published in 2022 by

STORYMAKERS, INC.

P.O. Box 91338

Houston, Texas 77291-1338

www.storymakersinc.com

Copyright 2022 by Tamica Sears

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publishers, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.

Although the author and publisher have made every effort to ensure that the information in this book was correct at press time, the author and publisher do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any injury, loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause.

The author and publisher are not responsible for any injury, loss, damage, or disruption that may result from practicing the techniques outlined in this book.

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that neither the authors not the publisher is engaged in rendering legal, medical, or other professional service. If legal or medical advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.

From a Declaration of Principles Jointly Adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations

ISBN: 978-0-9888079-8-3

ISBN: 979-8-9856355-0-8 (e-book)

Printed in the United States of America

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Whenever you arrive at the office, do you get the cold shoulder? Does the atmosphere go from warm and friendly to awkward and quiet? Does everyone turn off their camera on Zoom when you join the call?

Who has kids? Who likes skiing? Whos golfing this weekend? As a manager, do you know the answers to these types of questions?

Do you arrive with a smile but are met with angry faces? Do you work hard to put together a productive meeting, only to have it end with grumpy and irritable employees?

Are your numbers bad? Like really bad? And although youve tried everything, your employees just suck. Or do they?

You cant count on anyone to be in the office. Does flu season really last that long?

Even when you make a great hire, they dont stay long. Why doesnt anyone want to work for you?

Is your office door always closed? Are you approachable?

Are there multiple complaints about you and your management style?

Youre the leader, so you make all of the decisions. Shouldnt employees just follow you without question?

You feel like youre outpaced by everyone. Sure, you lead a team, but as far as career progression goes, you remain stagnant. Does it seem like everyone else is moving up except you?

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First, a big thank you to Fred Stawitz for saying that I should just go ahead and do this. You made it seem so easy.

Thank you to Misty Batchelder for seeing me through so much. You make the world a better place.

Chris Ogden, my friend and mentor, thank you for putting me on the right path and showing me the difference between a job and a career. And of course, thank you for knowing math.

Toni Botting, without your nepotism and love, I have no idea where I would be.

My Bro in Law Bill who always makes me laugh.

To my first boss, Sheila Mallard, thank you for trusting a high school student with payroll.

Talisa, you are literally my other half. Thank you for being the incognito evil twin so that I can push the envelope in real life and thank you for Max and Mackenzie. They make me want to make the world a better place. Marks cool too, but he will think that this is a heavy read, so youll have to summarize it for him.

Tanya, you tried your best. Youve always been my cheerleader, thank you.

Thank you to my brother Beasty for being the first and laying the Williams foundation.

Janelle, thank you for being the beautiful perfect person that you are.

My Gina, I will never be able to repay you for the time that you took holding my hand under that tree. Youre the absolute best.

Elizabeth, you and Vanessa mean the world to me. Im so proud of you and happy that you are raising strong women leaders.

Michele, Richard, Gary, Turk you will always have a place in my heart, #traumabonds.

Thank you, Kirsty for proving that internet strangers can be positively life changing. You and Seth are the sister and brother I didnt realize I needed.

Thank you, Lindsay, for being my ride or die. We havent died yet, so yay!

Darius and TaTiana, I moved across the country because I missed you so much and it was totally worth it.

Tamara and Aiden, I am so lucky to be your aunt.

Cozy, thank you for the shocked look every time I visit, it cracks me up.

Arlandra Lynn, you crazy millennial traveler, thank you for showing me another way of life.

Laurel, thank you for your coaching and for the Institute for Integrative Intelligence. You changed my life and made me a better person.

Aunt Dot, thank you for showing me the world.

My Detroit Aunties, thank you.

Chanel, thank you for making me look good. Literally.

Tom, thank you for all of the Draymond time, the only thing he lets me do is type.

Thank you, Amber, my Strawberry Shortcake, for believing in yourself.

Bob Z, you rock!

Lonni, the world must protect you at all costs. Thank you for being you and for believing in me.

Jason Ross, youre an awesome hype man but an even better EVP, thank you for being a leader that people can look up to.

My SB POCs thank you for keeping me sane. Well sane-ish.

Christine, Abbie, Dan, Glendalynn, Mark, Maureen, Michael, Russ, Zach, Doug, Brian, Roger, and Bobby the Bear, yall rock and make LinkedIn fun.

Jamie and Demetra, thank you for all of your help putting this together.

Thank you, Eric the ying to my yang, and best older little brother a girl could ever have!

Alma and James, my mother and father, I miss you both and I couldnt have asked for a better mommy.

And last but most importantly thank you to Troix and Kim, my babies. You push me to do better every day.

DISCLAIMER

This book is not meant to be academic in nature, and that should be evident by how often I use the word asshole. But I want to put it out there anyway. Im not an academic like Bren Brown, and in no way should this book be taken as anything as serious as she writes. I dont even have a PhD in TED Talkery. However, I have spent years observing and analyzing the leadership behaviors that appear in these pages. The writing is fictionalized and is a mix of different people and situations woven together to tell a story. If you read a story and think its about you, it actually isntbut you probably are an asshole boss. If not currently, then at some point during your career. In addition, names throughout this work have been fictionalized for obvious reasons.

INTRODUCTION

It is an age-old saying that people dont leave organizations, they leave bosses. In my 20+ years as a Human Resources Professional, I can tell you with absolute certainty this is the case.

Hi, Im Tamica Sears, and Im so glad youre here. With my education and experience combined, Im here to walk you through a self-discovery process that will improve your career as a leader. Sometimes the truth can hurt, but nothing good comes from standing still and burying your head in the sand.