‘THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA’ MAY BE CLEANING UP AT THE BOX OFFICE, BUT BAD BOSSES ARE COSTING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS EVERY YEAR, EXPERT SAYS 

DALLAS, TX(rushprnews) 07/29/2006--  ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ is cleaning up at the box office this summer. While working for an overly-demanding, overly-critical and overly obnoxious boss may be highly entertaining, Trudy Bourgeois, founder of the Dallas-based Center for Workforce Excellence, insists that bad bosses are no laughing matter. Bad bosses, says Bourgeois, are costing businesses billions of dollars every year.

According to Bourgeois, “Gallup research suggests that up to 80% of Americans are dissatisfied with their jobs, and up to 60% of all employees report some level of disengagement. Research further suggests that disengaged workers cause corporations and organizations lose as much as 312 billion dollars a year. Bad leadership is also the number one reason people leave jobs.”

And Bourgeois speaks from first-hand experience: “I know exactly how it feels to be checked out due to bad leadership.  It doesn’t happen suddenly.  It occurs over time.  With every disrespectful comment, with every put-down, with every recommendation that gets rejected, I found myself withdrawing further and further.  After time, the situation seemed unfixable, and I left the company.”

Bourgeois maintains that today’s bosses and leaders must face the challenge of adapting to a changing workforce: “People want to build authentic relationships in the workforce and they do not want to work for a leader who is not willing to meet them where they are and honor their expectations and desires.”

Bourgeois offers the following advice:

1. Lead with vulnerability. The secret is out -- leaders do not have all the answers. The best leaders are those who are authentic. .  Today’s employee wants to work with someone that they know is real.

2.  Challenge your own assumptions. The secrets to success in the 21^st century are flexibility and adaptability. Meet people where they are. Adopt a best practice to ask each employee, and ask these questions: What are their strengths? What motivates them? What factors need to be in place in order for them to thrive in the work environment? How do they learn? These basic questions will provide you with insight on ways to better lead, teach and create an environment where everyone can reach his or her full potential.

3.  Be transparent in your communication.  Lose the agenda. People need to understand their role and how it adds value to the bottom line.

4.  Avoid a one-size-fits-all mentality.  One-size-fits-all management or leadership is not effective.  

5.  Hold everyone accountable -- including yourself.  There is no excuse for behavior in the work place that does not support inclusion.   

Trudy Bourgeois is President/CEO of The Center Workforce Excellence.  She is a speaker and consultant, experiential workshop leader and a certified Brain Styles coach.  Trudy is the author of two books including Her Corner Office, and The Hybrid Leader:  Blending the Best of the Male and Female Leadership Styles. Members of the news media wishing to requested an interview or more information are asked to contact Maryglenn McCombs by phone – 615.297 9875, or by email – maryglenn@maryglenn.com

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