In a perfect world, we would all have kind and compassionate bosses. Bosses that would give empowering feedback when a mistake is made.
Unfortunately the world is full of difficult people, including bosses and managers. Some of these are the angry type of personalities with a constant chip on their shoulder, or those that seem to micromanage your every move.
Even if you find yourself dealing with the type of boss that makes your job a struggle, it’s still important for you to complete your work.
Here are some helpful tips on how to help you to better communicate and work with your boss better, hopefully finding some sort of common ground –
1~ Identify Problems. If your boss has anger issues with certain things, identify what triggers their frustration and try your best to avoid them. If your boss hates typos, make sure to thoroughly examine all documents before letting them be read by others.
2~ Give Them Time. If you see that your boss is angry about something, give them time to be alone to cool down. If they seem to be struggling with several ongoing issues – bringing more to their plate is not a wise decision. Timing is everything when dealing with conflict, and can make a world of difference in their decision or reaction.
3~ Don’t Let it Affect Your Job. No matter how poor your boss’ behavior is on certain days – don’t let it affect your work. Taking longer breaks or lunches to get ‘away’, will not remedy the situation and may also get you in trouble with other managers too.
4~ Write Things Down. Be sure to keep track of all interactions with your boss. This act gives you the ability to be prepared to have documented proof if your boss questions your actions or contradicts themselves.
5~ Try to Understand. Try understanding why your boss has difficulty with certain things, and what makes them feel out of control. Remember that they are also only human. Maybe he or she is not concerned with how long it takes you to finish a project, but are worried about how their superiors will react.
6~ Stay Ahead. When you are dealing with a difficult boss the best idea is to try to stay one step ahead. Try to anticipate tasks that you will be asked to complete, and begin working on them ahead of time. This will show your boss that you know your responsibilities – and will eliminate the need for you to be constantly micromanaged.
Nothing will completely take away the frustration of dealing with a difficult boss, but by going into work with a positive attitude and diligent work ethic, the two of you may be able to find some middle ground, making your job a lot more productive and enjoyable.
