BNET Business Dictionary
Business Definition for: Boss
- the person in charge of a job, process, department, or organization, more formally known as a manager or supervisor
Wiktionary Definition for: Boss
- slang of excellent quality, first-rate
- A person in charge of a business or company.
- Ex:* Chat turned to whisper when the '''boss''' entered the conference room.
- A person who oversees and directs the work of others; a supervisor.
- Ex:* My '''boss''' complains that I'm always late to work.
- A leader, the head of an organized group or team.
- Ex:* They named him '''boss''' because he had good leadership skills.
- The head of a political party in a given region or district.
- Ex:* He is the Republican '''boss''' in Kentucky.
- context mechanical A protrusion, frequently a cylinder of material that extends beyond a hole.
- architecture A knob or projection, usually at the intersection of ribs in a vault.
- To exercise authoritative control; to lord over; to boss around; to tell someone what to do, often repeatedly.
- Ex:* You aren't my father. You can't '''boss''' me around!.
- rare To decorate with bosses; to emboss.
Additional Resources
- How to Manage Your Boss
- It's nice to imagine that the success of your career rests upon your basic competence at doing your job, but that's only half the picture. Make "Keeping the Boss in the Loop" a Regular Activity Goal: Reassure your boss that you know...
- Articles 2007-03-07
- Can You Sell Your Idea... to Your Boss?
- Got an idea that could kick your career into overdrive?  Good for you! But be forewarned: selling an idea is not like selling a product. With a product, customers can see what they're buying. With an idea, there's nothing to see except little ol' you. Here's an interactive game that...
- Blog posts 2009-06-02
- Dealing with a Difficult Boss
- Do you have a difficult or challenging relationship with your boss? You are not alone. Of all the less-than-perfect interactions you may have at work, this will probably be the trickiest and most stressful because of the inherent political dynamic of your relationship. Many people tend to lay the blame...
- Articles 2007-02-15
- Building an Alliance with Your Boss
- Does your work life seem like a Dilbert cartoon? Career ladders are often populated with superiors like Dilbert's, who are anything but the ideal manager. Inept, disorganized, power hungry, or downright mean—bad bosses come in all sizes and shapes. Often, they're so busy with their own careers that they're blind...
- Articles 2007-10-09
- Troubleshoot Bad Boss Behavior
- Troubleshoot Bad Boss BehaviorBad Boss BehaviorWhile interesting, I think that you are missing one value issue: the workplace bully. An increasing behaviour, which unfortunately none of your suggestions would even come close to addressing. Maybe something for an future article as this is a all too real...
- Discussion threads 2007-03-09
- Responding to the Toxic Boss
- Responding to the Toxic BossRE: Responding to the Toxic Boss"Don't react" is okay, but get out as soon as you can. In the early 80s I was a legal secretary to a Type A woman who had 4 ft. stacks of briefs all over the floor of her office,...
- Discussion threads 2008-10-02
- So When Did Your Boss Become an Authoritarian?
- So When Did Your Boss Become an Authoritarian?RE: So When Did Your Boss Become an Authoritarian?Responsibility accountability and authority, these should go hand in hand. Sometimes there is a disconnect as well as a person may be given the authority and responsibility but not given guidance on the limits...
- Discussion threads 2008-08-19
- Troubleshoot Bad Boss Behavior
- It's an occupational hazard: Even the best bosses sometimes act like jackasses. Boss Problem: Chronic Micromanagement Your Solution: Build a detailed plan for your projects, with regular milestones where you will report back for feedback. Invite your boss to review the plan and adjust it...
- Articles 2007-03-07
- Hate Your Boss? Manage Up to Stay Sane
- The Find: If you've reached that point where it's no longer possible to convince yourself you don't hate your boss, all is not lost, thanks to these tips on how to "manage up" and make the best of a bad situation. The Source: An article by career...
- Blog posts 2008-11-28
- Ten Warning Signs of a Crummy Boss
- The Find: A ten question checklist to help those looking for a job or shopping around for a new department discover if their prospective boss is a jerk or an incompetent. The Source: Management guru Bob Sutton's Work Matters blog. The Takeaway: Right now...
- Blog posts 2009-02-18
- When the Worst Employee Is the Boss's Son
- Dear Stanley, I work for a very small company where one of my co-workers is my boss's son. I've only been here about four months and in that time the son has been to work maybe half the days. For example,...
- Blog posts 2009-02-25
- Weighing the Pros and Cons of Becoming Your Own Boss
- People consider self-employment for many different reasons, ranging from the allure of not having a boss, to the excitement of being an entrepreneur.Regardless of your motivation, you'll need to ascertain if you have the skills required to manage yourself effectively. You'll also need to weigh the pros of cons of...
- Articles 2007-11-14
- My Boss Doesn't Seem To Have My Back
- Dear Ron, Several senior managers have complimented me several times and have helped move me to good assignments. However, my immediate boss has tended to remain neutral and has expressed no interest in developing my career. How concerned should I be? However your boss feels about...
- Blog posts 2009-06-25
- How to Tell Your Boss He's Wrong
- How to Tell Your Boss He's Wrongre. CEOs who can't take crticismPerhaps this person was better off for having been fired. It's sad how common it is for C-level folks to have the thinnest skin in the company. It seems like good leaders should enlist feedback whenever possible...
- Discussion threads 2008-07-18
- 7 Ways to Handle a Lousy Boss
- So, your boss stinks. But you don't have the option of a new job right now. Feel stuck? Don't panic yet. There are a few ways you can help make the most of a bad situation, or even turn it around to your advantage. 1. Look at...
- Blog posts 2008-10-07
- My Boss Keeps Threatening to Let Me Go
- Today's workplace is about as challenging as it's ever been. Not only are people being laid off left and right, but those who have kept their jobs have had to re-assess their standing amidst unsettling reorganizations. Almost everyone is being asked to do the proverbial "more with less." What was...
- Blog posts 2009-03-26
- How to Handle a Demotivating Boss.
- A reader writes: Great 7 steps for motivation. How do you handle it when your manager ignores your motivation, or worse, tells you your motivation is irrelevant and that your sole motivation should be to make the numbers? In that post (Get Motivated. Here's How.)...
- Blog posts 2007-11-19
- How Does Your Boss Stack Up?
- How Does Your Boss Stack Up?RE: How Does Your Boss Stack Up?Not in a position to tell about my immidiate supervisor as because he is very new and transfered here just few days back. I can tell about my supervisor's supervisor..........he is an asshole.RE: How Does Your Boss Stack Up?The...
- Discussion threads 2008-10-07
- How to Suffer a Micromanaging Boss
- I have a question about micromanaging CEOs. How should competent staff react when the CEO wants to be informed about and involved in every detail of the company, to the point that everyone feels as though they have someone looking over their shoulder all day long waiting for something...
- Blog posts 2007-09-17
- Who Cares About National Boss Day?
- Today is National Boss Day. (Hallmark remembered it; did you?) A lot of people feel it’s just another excuse to sell cards, and that it might be awkward to give or receive a token of esteem. Since you're probably on both sides of the table on this one, the day may...
- Blog posts 2007-10-16
