Dealing With a Bad Boss
Posted in Management & Leadership
One of the problems encountered by employees of an organization is dealing with a bad boss. A good sign of a happy company is to have a great rapport between the boss and all (not some) of his her employees.
Meanwhile, if your boss is a bully, intrusive, controlling, picky or petty, you are most likely going to have a problem in dealing with a bad boss.
He may also take credit for your work, never provide positive feedback, and misses every meeting he schedules with you. He may cave immediately under pressure and fails to support his staff in accomplish their job.
Before creating a plan on how to deal with a bad boss, you have to determine if you boss is aware of his bad behavior. Your superior may not realize that his failure to provide any direction or feedback make him a bad boss, he may lack training and can be overwhelmed with his job requirements that he cannot provide support for you, or may not share your values-for instance, when it comes to using the employee's vacation leaves.
Here is some of the recommended approach in dealing with an unwittingly bad boss.
Talk to your boss
Tell him what you need from him when it comes to direction, feedback, and support. Make sure that you conversing with him in a polite manner, but at the same time keeping focus on your needs. Telling the boss outright that he is a bad boss is not productive at all.
Ask your boss how you can help
Volunteer in helping him reach his goals. Listen well to his instructions and provide the needed assistance.
Be trained by other managers or peers
Seek a mentor from other managers or more skilled peers within the organization to broaden your opportunity for experience. Make sure that your current manager has full knowledge of your apprenticeship on other managers.
Go to your boss' manager
Everyone in the organization has a superior, except for the CEO of course. If you have taken the actions above and none of them worked, talk to your boss' manager and ask for assistance.
You can also go to your Human Resources staff first and ask for advice. Your current manager may not like what you did, but ensure to him you have done what you can do with him, if you really did follow the approaches listed above.
Bring back-up
Not all grievances sent to your boss' manager may be taken action. In fact, they may not have done anything to solve the problem. It is probably because they do not believe.
If this happens, draw together coworkers who also experience your bad boss' behavior. Visit your boss' office once again and state your case. This may help him see the size and impact of your boss' bad behavior.
If all else fail, transfer
If you think your boss cannot-and will not-change, ask for a transfer to another department within the organization. This provides an impression that you like your employer and your work. However, if that transfer or promotion is unavailable, you have no choice but to search for a new job.
