{"id":3101,"date":"2013-10-13T09:53:04","date_gmt":"2013-10-13T16:53:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/practicalmentor.com\/?p=3101"},"modified":"2015-07-28T13:52:21","modified_gmt":"2015-07-28T20:52:21","slug":"coping-with-a-difficult-boss-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/practicalmentor.com\/?p=3101","title":{"rendered":"How To Handle A Bad Boss: 7 Strategies For ‘Managing Up’ – Or just managing?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>How To Handle A Bad Boss: 7 Strategies For ‘Managing Up’ – Or just managing? <\/p>\n

A difficult boss is one of the most common and most frustrating situations in the workplace. Even those who say they get on great their boss, and their boss admires them are usually faking. Truth is that most human beings are not wired to get on well with authority. True many adapt, but few really like being told what to do or micro managed. <\/p>\n

It seems the most successful bosses in the studies are those who are delegators and coaches than those who micro manage. However looking at top paid CEOs and managers, they are more or less tyrants. So as an employee, although it is easier working for a nice boss, the big league players have to dealing with a difficult boss. That is not to say it will be easy or enjoyable, but it is the path to the brass ring. <\/p>\n

The following article gives some advice on dealing with a difficult boss.<\/p>\n

How To Handle A Bad Boss: 7 Strategies For ‘Managing Up’<\/p>\n

Margie Warrell ,<\/p>\n

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\nIf you\u2019ve got a lousy boss right now you have my sympathy. Truly. It can really siphon the enjoyment from what might otherwise be a rewarding role, leave you feeling undervalued, and wondering whether you should begin searching for something new. But before you start planning an exit strategy, it would be wise to rethink how you can better manage the boss you already have \u2013for all their flaws and shortcomings.
\nHaving worked with numerous not-so-inspiring bosses in my corporate career, I\u2019ve learned they provide invaluable opportunities for developing executive leadership skills and learning \u2018what not to do\u2019 when managing people who work for you. You just have to be proactive in looking for them and ready to practice some real self-leadership.<\/p>\n

New research has found that being overworked is not the reason people leave their jobs. A Danish study of 4,500 public service workers has provided credence to the adage that \u201c people don\u2019t leave jobs, they leave managers .\u201d According to psychologist Matias Br\u00f8dsgaard Grynderup, one of the researchers behind the study, \u201cWe may have a tendency to associate depression and stress with work pressure and workload; however, our study shows that the workload actually has no effect on workplace depression.\u201d
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\nHowever fixed in their ways your boss may be, you can always learn ways to better manage him or her. The secret is to \u201cmanage up\u201d without them ever realizing you are doing it. So rather than think of your boss as your boss, think of them as a difficult client \u2013 one you have to figure out how to work with if you want to get ahead, even if you\u2019d rather not.
\nHopefully the strategies below will help you on your way. Underpinning each of them is a commitment to take responsibility for your own success, regardless of the different (and difficult) personalities you will inevitably have to encounter throughout your working life.
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\n1. Know their \u2018Why\u2019: Identify prime motivations.
\nThe better you understand what your boss does, and more importantly, why, the better positioned you are to deliver results, manage expectations, and avoid lose:lose situations. Try to put yourself in their shoes and see the world, and your workplace, as they might.
\n\u2022\tWhat does he care about?
\n\u2022\tWhat keeps him up at night?
\n\u2022\tWhat would he love more of and what would he love less of on a daily basis?
\n\u2022\tWhat frightens him?
\n\u2022\tHow much importance does he place on impressing others?
\n\u2022\tHow does he measure success and what does he think about failure?
\nWhen you know what drives your boss (even if your boss may not be fully conscious of it), you can speak to \u201chis listening,\u201d frame your opinions and use language in ways that line up with his core values, concerns and priorities.
\n2. Support their success: Work around their weaknesses.
\nWhile it may sound counter intuitive to support a bad boss in becoming more successful, there is absolutely nothing to be gained by making him look bad, going to war or facilitating his (or her) failure. If he is as bad as you think, he will likely do a pretty good job of that all by himself. Exposing his incompetence will only compound your own misery and may even damage your reputation.
\nOne way is to help your boss focus on his natural strengths. Another is to proactively work around his weaknesses. If you know you have a boss who\u2019s disorganized, then help him to be on top of things rather than whining about his lack of organizational skills. If you know your boss is often late to meetings, offer to kick off the next meeting for him. If he tends to change his mind frequently, or is outright forgetful, be sure to document interactions so you can refer back to them if he ever contradicts himself. If you know your boss is slow to respond, continue to work on a project while you wait to hear back from him. Making yourself indispensable and someone your boss can rely on to help him do his job is a valuable asset when you start to look to \u2018what\u2019s next?\u2019
\nBy doing what you can to help your boss succeed, you lay a solid foundation for greater success yourself. It may not be an immediate reward, but in the long run, you can never lose by helping others do better than they otherwise would.
\n3. Take the high road: Your \u201cPersonal Brand\u201d is riding on it.
\nNever let your boss\u2019s bad behavior be an excuse for your own. All too often, people start feeling entitled to slack off, take longer and longer lunches, lose interest or stop performing well because of their bad boss. Don\u2019t do it. Keep your mind focused on top performance. Complain to your spouse or your friends all you want, but when in the office or workplace, stay upbeat and engaged. Actually handling a difficult boss well can really set you apart. You never know who is watching or listening but be assured, people who can open or close future opportunities for you are doing just that!
\nWhile it may be easy to succumb to resentment or resignation and mentally check out of your job, doing so not only undermines your own integrity but it can put you at risk of being branded as whiner, a slacker, or both. So if your boss is a shouter, don\u2019t react by shouting back. If they are petty or small minded, don\u2019t descend to smallness yourself (however tempting!) Rather maintain a calm and professional demeanour in dealing with your difficult boss. As Gandhi wrote \u201cBe the change you want to see in the world.\u201d In this case, act like the leader you wish your boss was.
\nIf you feel you\u2019ve run out of options for dealing with him reasonably, then don\u2019t go rumor-mongering or bad-mouthing him to everyone within earshot. That will ultimately say more about you than it does about your boss (and not things you\u2019d want said!) Rather, follow proper procedures for registering complaints with Human Resources or with higher-level superiors, documenting each step of the way.
\n4. Speak up: Give your boss a chance to respond.
\nEarly into my career, I left a good job with a global consulting firm because I had a lousy boss and a toxic work environment. Upon leaving, the HR lead \u2013 a senior partner at this organization \u2013 asked to meet with me to find out why I was leaving. I shared how undervalued I had felt, how the promises made to me upon employment had not been met and how little accountability there was for my colleagues. He was surprised and disturbed and asked if there was anything he could do to make me change my mind. Apparently I\u2019d been ear-marked a hi-po (which would have been nice to have known before then!), but by this point it was too late. I\u2019d already made other plans, hoping for a better work environment, and a better boss.
\nThe lesson for me was this: h ave the courage to speak up rather than cower in silence for fear of an awkward conversation . The truth is that I\u2019d been too cowardly to address my concerns with my boss or to go around her. Admittedly I was young (mid-twenties) and inexperienced, but if I knew then what I do now, it would have been that I owed it to myself, and to my boss at the time, to have at least voiced my concerns, offered up some possible solutions and engaged in a conversation about how we could have improved the situation. It may not have changed a thing, but at least I could have known that I at least gave her a chance.
\nSo just because it may be easier to say nothing, to just \u2018suffer quietly\u2019 or complain loudly to colleagues or to head for the exit as I ultimately did, you at least owe your boss the opportunity to respond. Don\u2019t prejudge and assume they aren\u2019t able to take feedback, or don\u2019t care how miserable you are. When you approach them with respect and with a genuine desire to make things work better, you can open the door to whole new levels of trust, collaboration and outcomes. A door that will remain permanently closed otherwise.
\n5. Know their preferences: Adapt to them.
\nObserve your boss\u2019s behavioral style, preferences and pet peeves. Is he fast-paced and quick to make decisions? Is he slow to think about things, needing time to process information? How does he like to communicate \u2013 via e-mail, in person drop-ins, or lengthy memos? The more you can match your style to your boss\u2019s style when communicating, the more he will really hear what you\u2019re saying.
\nIf you\u2019ve ever done any personality assessments such as Myers-Briggs or DISC, then see if your boss has as well and find out what they are. It can help you adapt your style and spare a lot of strain. Working with his preferences is an obvious way of managing your boss without his ever knowing it, and it\u2019s a key leadership skill to develop regardless of the kind of boss you are working for.
\n6. Don\u2019t be intimidated by a bully: Stand tall, never cower!
\nPeople who bully get their power from those who respond by cowering and showing fear . If your boss is a yeller, a criticizer, or a judge \u2013 stand firm. If you\u2019re doing the best job you can do, keep your head held high and don\u2019t give him the satisfaction of pushing you about. Rather ask questions, seek to understand, and work to defuse a difficult situation instead of cowering or responding in anger. It takes practice, but over time you will get better at it and he will look elsewhere for his power kick.
\nIf you feel compelled to call your boss on his behavior, go ahead but do so with a cool head and prepare in advance for the ensuing fallout. It could get ugly so think things through beforehand. What are your options? Who are your allies? Have you documented his behavior? Can you deal with the possibility of the worst outcome? Sure, it\u2019s important to stand strong, but be smart about it. As I wrote in Stop Playing Safe, \u201cSometimes you have to go out on a limb and do something where the risks are high. But before you climb out, be sure you\u2019ve managed the risks as best you can and set up a safety net should you fall.\u201d
\n7. Be Proactive: Do your research before jumping ship.
\nOf course the best way to manage a bad boss is not to have one in the first place. So whenever you are looking to move into a new role in the same company or move to another organization all together, invest some time to get a sense of the culture, the leadership and the sort of management practices that are tolerated and supported. If you are moving internally, make sure you do your networking ahead of time to get a sense of both the environment within the team you might be moving to, and those who are creating it. Are they leaders who create an environment where people are inspired and supported to work hard, or do they incite fear about what will happen if people don\u2019t?
\nIf you are moving to a new organization, do your research to make sure you\u2019re not jumping from the frying pan into the fire. Sometimes in our desperation to escape a toxic work environment we fail to take notice of the warning signs that the new job we\u2019re taking will only be worse. Have a coffee with whoever you know at the new company to get a sense of the culture, employee engagement, moral, and management style. Investing a few hours up front could spare you a few years of frustration.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

How To Handle A Bad Boss: 7 Strategies For ‘Managing Up’ – Or just managing? A difficult boss is one of the most common and most frustrating situations in the workplace. Even those who say they get on great their boss, and their boss admires them are usually faking. Truth is that most human beings […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3101","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-advice"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/practicalmentor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3101","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/practicalmentor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/practicalmentor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/practicalmentor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/practicalmentor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3101"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/practicalmentor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3101\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3346,"href":"https:\/\/practicalmentor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3101\/revisions\/3346"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/practicalmentor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3101"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/practicalmentor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3101"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/practicalmentor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3101"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}