Bad managers come in all shapes and sizes. So how do you go about differentiating the “OK” managers from the truly incompetent? Here are 5 tell-tale signs that your manager may be in need of a serious management lesson.

1. Dislikes your use of free time to develop yourself.
What this shows is that you have a manager so insecure with his/her own abilities that they see an employee’s drive to improve themselves as a threat.

2. Doesn’t tell you much
A really great manager has learned to entrust those under him with both responsibility and information. Any manager that can’t trust you with even the smallest of sensitive/private information is a manager that lacks any sense of trust with their employees.

3. Creates drama
Good managers don’t create drama they mitigate and control it. If the latest office hoopla seems to be emanating from the manager it’s more than likely a defense mechanism. If the office isn’t consumed with gossip/hearsay than they might start noticing the subpar job that Mr. Manager is doing.

4. Talks at you about your performance
Instead of trying to find out what your needs are regarding your performance or addressing any of your concerns, they would rather spend their time making sure you don’t interrupt.

5. Asks you to be more passionate
What does this even mean? It’s like asking your wife to love you or your neighbor to be your new best friend. Good manager don’t ask for passion from their workers. They inspire it.