A bad boss is consistently unpredictable. A bad boss sets win or lose work goals, a black and white approach to things with no in between. A bad boss also makes excessive physical demands and psychological demands. Specifically, one of the red flags that interests me is the loss of freedom within your job, or creative input. Studies show, in fact that if a boss increases the demands on a worker but limits his freedoms to make decisions, the worker often experiences raised blood pressure.
Elevated cholesterol is another symptom.
Insomnia, boredom, alcoholism, gastrointestinal problems, psychiatric or mental problems, depression, apathy, feelings of dread and even panic, smoking, poor performance, and many, many other symptoms. The point is, if you start taking the mystery out of it and get a clear definition of who this boss is, and who this boss should be, it will help your feelings of confusion and inadequacy. Like lifting the curtain from the Wizard of Oz, the Almighty Wizard of Oz, there was actually a little old man sitting behind the curtain, more than likely. If you have a boss, you are a boss to someone else, more than likely. This finger is not just pointing one direction, nor is it pointing at all.