EVER WORKED FOR A BAD BOSS?

Standing at the door with my orange juice, I heard that all-too-familiar raised voice.

“They’re an idiot. Looks like I’ll have to step in again. What is it with these people?”

You know the type. The boss who thinks they’re the headliner, and the rest of us are just lucky to be in the band.

They think they’re leading.

They’re not.

They’re just dragging their ego into the office and expecting everyone else to make space for it.

And the impact runs deep.

65% of employees say they’d take a new boss over a pay rise.

Poor leadership is the number one reason people leave jobs.

And it doesn’t just affect your career - it impacts your wellbeing.

A Harvard study found that a bad boss can be more damaging to your mental health than anything else at work.

In music, you don’t have to look far to see it.

The shouting. The micromanaging. The obsession with control.

And then the silence, like nothing ever happened.

In this industry, it happens more than we talk about, and it rarely gets called out.

But most leaders in music were never taught how to lead.

They had terrible role-models or just copied what came before them.

They got promoted because they’re great at their job. Be that selling, marketing, promoting, whatever.

Or the classic - their face fit.

But once they stepped into leadership, they were left to muddle through - with little-to-no training.

And when no one teaches you how to manage people, things can go sideways fast:

·      Micromanaging

·      Belittling or undermining others

·      Avoiding tough conversations

·      Playing favourites

·      Poor communication

Meanwhile, the team’s left to second-guess themselves, burn out, or clean up the mess.

Some stop speaking up or start looking for a way out.

Others play it safe in the background because they’ve learned that’s how to survive.

You’ve probably witnessed it, and maybe now, you’re the one stepping into leadership.

Thinking quietly to yourself:

“I want to do this differently.”

I coach women through this exact moment all the time.

They care deeply. They want to lead with integrity.

But they’re also battling imposter syndrome.

Scared of getting it wrong.

75% of female executives experience imposter syndrome, and women are 2.3× more likely than men to doubt their readiness for leadership roles. 

If that’s you, know this: it’s not a sign you’re not ready. It’s a sign you care.

You’re not expected to have it all figured out on day one.

What matters is how you show up, for yourself, and for your team.

Because leadership doesn’t have to look like what came before. It can look like you - thoughtful, real, human.

If you’re a woman stepping into leadership in music, and you know you want to do things differently - I see you.

Let’s talk about how to lead in a way that actually feels like you.

Just email me here and say: “Let’s talk.”

Your music industry coach,

Sarah