First, understand that your boss may not know they are a bad boss. A hands-off manager may not realize that failure to provide any direction or feedback is a symptom of a bad boss. What are the main management mistakes that they’re making and how do you go about coping with a bad boss?
- Be Nice to Your Boss
Never be rude or give your boss a reason to talk bad about you. Be a better person than your boss. Part of coping with a bad boss is helping your boss to not be a bad boss.
- Avoid Complaining
Talk to your boss but don’t yell or complain — your boss will win the argument. So, what do you say when you’re coping with a bad boss? Tell your boss what you need in terms of direction, feedback and support. Be polite and focus on your needs. Telling your boss he’s a bad boss is counterproductive and won’t help you meet your goals. Learn to communicate with your boss.
- Document Your Work
Do a self-check. Make sure it’s not you and your boss does not have solid reasons or justifications for their behavior. Then keep track of what you accomplish.
- Be Objective
Communicate with your boss objectively, with evidence of your accomplishments. Learn to manage your time and note what you get done so you are prepared to confront your boss with data (objective evidence) and not opinions.
- Clarify Your Performance Measures
Use objective measures. Anticipate what your boss is looking for and make sure you are focused on those measures before your performance review.
- Don’t Burn Bridges
Be popular. Get to know other people in your company. Be nice to everyone. Especially other managers. Be seen as a problem-solver and make sure your boss’ peers know it. This could help if your boss talks about how bad you are but others see you as helpful.
- Be Careful When Talking to HR or Your Boss’s Boss
Don’t expect HR to solve the problem. The problem with going to higher ups or HR to complain about a bad boss is that they will support the boss most of the time. Once you complain you will be on your boss’ radar until you’re fired or you become miserable enough to quit. Sorry, that’s just the reality of corporate life…
- Learn to Pick Your Battles
Timing is everything in life. Don’t worry about the small stuff. Take charge of your life and learn to control what you can. If you bother your boss about every little thing, then your boss will begin to ignore your comments. Make sure you focus on what’s important.
- Laugh and Use Your Humor to Cope
Don’t take life so seriously, but have your resume ready. If your life under this boss is really uncomfortable, then you should start looking for a new job. If all else fails, you have to transfer or leave.
- Learn from the Experience
If it did not work out, then don’t let it happen again. Understand the warning signs and look for those signs in the next job situation. Learn to anticipate what your boss needs, document what you get done, be popular, be nice, avoid complaining, and most of all be objective.
Business executives face many difficult daily challenges like creating and dominating new markets or finding and keeping the best people. But many executives spend too much time solving everyday problems, which prevent them from growing the business and becoming a better manager.
(C) Bizmanualz: Printed previously by permission
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MD of Bizmanualz St. Louis, MO