The Truth About Bad Bosses, Time-Saving Habits of Busy Leaders.

What’s happening in the world of work: The Saturday edition of the Daily Rundown highlights the business trends, perspectives, and hot topics you need to know to work smarter. Read on and join the conversation.

There are more “bad boss relationships” than there are bad bosses. Yes, some managers are not cut out for the job. But often our boss troubles come down to relationship patterns we establish with them, psychologist and executive coach Richard Boston tells the Financial Times. Before bailing on a job you otherwise enjoy, explore your role, however small it may be, in the conflict. Try to put yourself in your manager’s shoes. What fears or concerns might be leading them to act the way they acting? Are there workarounds you haven’t considered? A bit of reflection and empathy can go a long way. • Share your thoughts: #BossRelationships

Speaking of bad bosses: They’re not the main reason people leave a job. Wharton’s Adam Grant and members of Facebook’s HR team recently conducted an analysis of workers who remained at the social networking giant and those who left. Those who left didn’t feel their job was tapping into their strengths, that they were growing their skills, or happy with the work itself. But bosses can make a difference: The team found that when managers can tailor a job to a given worker’s passions, talents, and work-life priorities — rather than force a staffer into a preconceived role — they end up with more satisfied, committed employees. “It’s up to managers to design jobs that are too good to leave.” • Share your thoughts: #WhyWorkersQuit

Hot topic: Managing your time

It pays to come up with a few time management strategies to keep your sanity while you conquer the world. Radiate CEO Betty Liu put together a roundup of tips from executives and entrepreneurs who know how to handle very full plates. • Join the conversation: #ManagingYourTime

Keep it short. Why write four-paragraph emails when a few sentences will do? Levo CEO and founder Caroline Ghosn emphasizes to-the-point communication at her company.
Every bit counts. Even small time-savers add up: Plated co-founder Nick Taranto opts for lace-free shoes, reportedly saving the entrepreneur 30 to 60 seconds a day.
Be willing to spend. One option may be less expensive, but consider whether the pricier path may save you precious time in the long run, advises Ariel Investments President Mellody Hobson.
Just say no. Radiate CEO Betty Liu reminds us that saying no to opportunities with grace is perhaps the most effective time saver of all.
To develop self-awareness, stop asking why: Understanding how others perceive us and having a clear sense of our motivations can increase job satisfaction and improve our leadership skills. But we stumble on the road to self-knowledge because we keep asking why we feel the way we do or why things haven’t worked out — questions that often lead to negative, unproductive thoughts. Organizational psychologist Tasha Eurich suggests that we focus on “what” instead of “why.” What steps can we take to solve our problems? What would help us improve our relationships? “What” questions shift our focus to the world outside our heads, paving a path to self-awareness. • Share your thoughts: #SelfAwarenessHowTo

Trying new things doesn’t have to hurt too much. Learning new skills can bring new meaning to your life and career, but it often involves looking like a novice in public — a prospect many find terrifying. And for our evolutionary ancestors, looking foolish trying something new could have life-or-death consequences, says management professor Keith Rollag. But Rollag says we should remember we are often victims of the “spotlight effect,” the notion that people are paying close attention to what we’re doing. In truth, most people are focusing on themselves — not watching you fall flat on your face down a ski slope. • Share your thoughts: #TryingNewThings

One last idea: A lofty goal can easily appear out of reach at the outset. But instead of staring at the mountain top from the bottom, author Jeff Haden suggests you break your ambitions down into bite-size steps that worked for other climbers in the past. • Share your thoughts: #BigGoalsSmallSteps

“Never try to reinvent a perfectly good wheel. Create a process based on what works, and then follow that process every day.”
What's your take? Join the conversations on today's stories in the comments.

— Scott Olster / Share this using #DailyRundown