The following text is the opening of an article which catalogues seven types of workplace boss that employees may encounter. Seven types of horrible boss There are some terrific leaders out there, but unfortunately there are also some absolute stinkers. I've encountered lots of types of horrible boss over the past couple of decades. I've put together our top seven types of horrible boss. Let's kick off with one I'm sure we can all identify with. Horrible Boss No 1: The Lost Lamb This is the poor soul who has risen through the ranks too quickly and is now completely out of their depth. They literally have no idea what they are doing and are certainly not ready to manage other people. Their shortcomings should quickly be found out and they will hopefully tumble back down the corporate ladder as quickly as they came up it. In the meantime, be careful not to pick up their slack, therefore keeping them in denial of their own ineffectiveness and in the lofty managerial position that just isn't right for them. Horrible Boss No 2: Miserable McMisery I don't expect people to be buoyant all the time, but how on earth do leaders expect to motivate staff when they are continually grumpy, stressed or angry? A Miserable McMisery can also be extremely unapproachable, meaning staff are unlikely to share any problems they have with projects, which can have a massive detrimental effect on productivity. Don't sink to their levels of despondency and try to keep the relationship as professional as possible. Horrible Boss No 3: The BFF This is the horrible boss, better known as everyone's “best friend forever”, who hasn't quite managed to strike that balance between professionalism and camaraderie. They can't fathom why befriending you on Facebook doesn't really send the right message to the rest of the team. They don't really command the respect they crave and can't understand why nobody takes them seriously in the workplace. Horrible Boss No 4: The Energiser This horrible boss makes you feel as if even your greatest efforts are barely 10 per cent of what they achieve on a regular basis. Nicknamed the Energiser because they keep going and going; working late, getting in early and even working weekends. They will think nothing of sending emails from their BlackBerry at 4am marked “URGENT” and will always set the right example by getting into work even if their appendix has just been removed or the office has been hit by a meteorite. Don't try to compete. If they want to work themselves into the ground, leave them to it! Horrible Boss No 5: Terry Teflon Terry Teflons will take the credit when their team delivers the goods but will be quick to point the finger when the team messes up. They hide their lack of abilities by changing direction so frequently that people stop paying them any attention. Remember that top-priority project they launched last month? Well guess what? It's been superseded by another lame-brain scheme Terry Teflon is sure will make all the difference this time around. Don't be afraid to question the thought processes behind their projects, but remember you are judged on execution as well as results, so sometimes you will have to go along with their bizarre projects. Horrible Boss No 6: The Big Baby This is the boss who acts like a toddler, constantly whingeing and complaining about their own boss to you. The way to manage a big baby is to ensure you don't stoop to their level. Stay professional, positive and neutral. Eventually they will get the message that you are not a sympathetic ear and they will move on to other poor souls who will feel the brunt of their misery. Horrible Boss No 7: The Climber The climber always has promotion at the forefront of their thoughts and is desperate to get to the top of that corporate ladder, no matter what it takes. Ultimately they will see you as just a piece of their jigsaw to achieve success and will trample over you if you get in their way. The best way to manage the climber's peacock-like ego is to tell them you understand that your job is to make them look good and then try to step into their shoes as soon as they get that swift promotion. In summary, if you don't get on with your boss it can be a real pain and your options might be limited. Don't suffer in silence though, life is too short and if your problems are unresolvable, there are always other jobs out there.