Good Manager, Bad Boss ?

I have been reading lot of articles and lot of posts regarding how a good manager different from a bad boss. After reading all of it, I am of sharing my thought and what do I think about good manager and a bad boss.

I have worked for few companies and I have reported to 50 year old boss to an abusive boss to an Ex Army personnel. I have had good and bad times with every manager I have worked under. I have even worked for a boss who once asked me to buy our own company product just to achieve the target. One boss once asked me to resign and he would hold hold my resignation for few days and would forward it to the HR if I do not achieve my target. Now are these managers Bad? After gaining some maturity, I understood that they were not bad. These same managers were very good for my colleagues. Then how a good manager different from bad boss?

My understanding says, the difference lies in the mindset. Every individual has a different way of working. As an employee, we must learn to be flexible enough to mold our working habit as per our manager. Those who would like to work with us closely becomes good manager and those who doesn't interact with us and speak to us only during review, becomes bad boss. As I always say, similar mind attracts. Those with similar mind set immediately become our friends.

I have been a manager/boss myself. For few, I am the best manager they have ever worked for and those who were asked to leave talk wrong about me wherever they go(for interview).

Having said that, I still believe that there are good humans and bad humans and by bad i meant nature of that person. It is difficult to change others but it is easy to change the way we work.

At the end, I did not mean to hurt anyone by writing this post. Neither I meant to disrespect my ex- managers. I just thought to share what I had in my mind. You may have a different mind set. You can share your thoughts and what do you think about good manager and bad boss in the comment section below. :-)