Author:
Carl Weaver
Date Of Creation:
22 February 2021
Update Date:
28 June 2024
Content
- Steps
- Part 1 of 3: Better Relationships
- Part 2 of 3: Getting the Right Mind
- Part 3 of 3: Getting Started
- Warnings
One of the main reasons work is no longer enjoyable is poor bosses. Fact is fact - a bad boss can turn even a decent team into a completely uncomfortable environment. But these are the bosses, the very people who give assignments and even, oh, horror, have the right to sign a dismissal order! It is because of this imbalance of power that it is important to maintain good relations with management. However, no one says that you should accept everything silently and with humility. By no means, it is in your power to change the situation! The main thing is to take responsibility and make an attempt to change everything for the better. However, you should remember that sometimes bosses show themselves from the bad side on purpose, because they see in your face a threat to their position. In such cases, you need to learn how to defend yourself. In other words, if you want to improve the climate in the workplace and understand how to deal with a bad boss - read this article!
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Better Relationships
1 Express your point of view. If you are trying to build a good relationship with management, you should not be silent. Discuss the problems you are facing with your boss in a calm, courteous and professional manner so you can solve them together. Of course, how you lead things to such a conversation will be influenced by both the personality of your leader and the kind of relationship you already have. Nevertheless, in general, it is better to speak and try to improve the situation than to get angry or give up, unable to do your own work. - You will be surprised, but many bosses do not even realize that the people under their authority are dissatisfied, upset or upset about something. When you voice your concerns to the management, they will surely be grateful to you for it.
- If you never say anything to your boss, chances are your work environment will never improve. Yes, sometimes talking about a problem is unpleasant. However, in the long run, it is quite beneficial.
- You should think carefully about everything you say - once, ask your boss when he will have time to talk - two, have evidence and evidence of problems with you - three.
2 Work with your boss, not against him. Perhaps you will be more or less pleased to "undermine" your boss, making him a fool in certain situations. Nevertheless, in the long term, cooperation aimed at achieving the goals and prosperity of the company is much more profitable. By wasting your time making a fool of your boss, you are only poisoning the work environment. In other words, stop thinking about yourself - try to help the boss achieve the goals of the company, and things will go much better. - Of course, working with someone you don't really respect is probably the last thing for you. Nevertheless, it is much better than constant conflicts in the workplace.
3 Track all your interactions. Perhaps carefully documenting all the terrible things your boss has done is not the best way to spend your work hours, you should do it - especially when you feel that the situation is starting to gain momentum. Save all those angry and offensive emails from your boss, as well as any other evidence that a serious problem is brewing in your workplace. Actually, there are two reasons for this: - First: if you and your boss sit down at the negotiating table, and the boss pretends that he does not understand at all that you are presenting this to him here, it will be inhumanly pleasant to present proof of this. You understand that it is one thing to tell your boss that he is giving mutually exclusive orders, and quite another to confirm this with two completely different emails.
- Second, if your boss is the kind of person who is ready to accuse anyone and anything, then documenting all your interactions (or communicating only with witnesses) will help you not to be extreme.
4 Don't talk bad about your boss in front of your colleagues. If you neglect this advice, then you will only add fuel to the fire ... or even get into the very heat. Yes, letting go of a comment or two about a boss's management style can be just a very tempting idea. However, it is best to abstain. If your colleagues share your indignation, then this is all right (although it will not solve the problem), but if your words are remembered by such a colleague who does not hesitate to lay you down to the bosses ... the situation can become truly unpleasant. - Separately, we emphasize that you should not talk bad about your boss in the presence of those who are higher than you in the hierarchy of the company. Trust me, it won't help your reputation. After all, you need to look like a problem-solver rather than someone who constantly complains about everything in the world.
5 Try to anticipate problems that will arise. Another way to improve relationships with superiors is to work on solving problems, as they say, even before they arise. You know, this is somewhat similar to how parents predict the tantrum of an infant - if you notice that the boss is angry with his face and menacing in appearance, then either be ready to tell him something that can calm him down, or just stay away. If you know your boss well, then you should know what will calm him down. Believe me, it will be better if you nip the problem in the bud. - If you know that at the next meeting, a colleague will talk about a serious problem, you can hint about the problem to the boss in advance that he was ready.
- If you know that, say, rain or traffic congestion is depressing for the boss, then be prepared to give him the good news when he walks into the office.
6 Don't put pressure on leadership pain points. Of course, you will be tempted to do the exact opposite, but this is not the path of wisdom.Instead, you should help your boss cope with what he is bad at, close, so to speak, his weak points. For example, if your boss is constantly late for morning meetings, offer to do it instead. If your boss keeps forgetting what to do and when to do it, offer to help prepare the next report for key partners. Think about how you can help, and do not hesitate to do so! - Helping your boss will improve your relationship - moreover, your boss may even be grateful to you.
7 Praise your boss for doing the right thing. Many managers never hear warm words addressed to them, since for some reason it is believed that they should praise their subordinates, and not vice versa. Yes, you may feel uncomfortable if you suddenly decide to approach the manager with advice, but you should know that a good leader is always happy with sound advice, because such feedback from subordinates will allow him to organize his work in a better and better way! Most importantly, do not overdo it and do not start flattering. - Your boss will be impressed that you approve of his leadership style and won't forget it.
Part 2 of 3: Getting the Right Mind
1 Remember the difference between a bad working relationship and a bad boss. A bad boss is one who deliberately behaves unprofessionally, forgetting about work ethics and norms of interaction in people, including. Bad relationships are the inability to discuss problems or work together to achieve mutually beneficial goals. And when you approach your boss to discuss something, you should focus not on the person, but on the relationship. This will help you stay calm and find a more productive way to deal with the problem. 
2 Make sure you are doing the right thing. Before making the boss extreme and blaming him for all the problems, ask yourself - are you really so perfect, and not from a subjective, but from an objective point of view? You must impeccably contribute to the common cause, work on projects, achieve your goals, etc. Ask yourself - is there anything you can do to improve your own behavior? Perhaps, by correcting this, you will also resolve the misunderstandings between you and your superiors. - Of course, there is always a chance that your boss is an extremely inadequate person and deaf to the voice of common sense. However, even in this case, it is better to be an impeccable worker.
3 Look at everything with humor. A healthy dose of laughter can help you not take things too seriously. Yes, no argue, there is nothing funny about conflict in the workplace - but just remind yourself that the working day will end soon, that work is not your whole life, that you have friends and your own interests that fill your life with meaning. So the next time your boss starts to harass you, just learn not to bother with it and not take everything so personally. - Again, if your boss is overtly going overboard, then there’s nothing funny about it. However, even then, it will be helpful to laugh at the daily problems.
4 Always and everywhere be a professional in your field. You may be tempted to mimic the boss, fool around, be late for work, or do something stupid (like stealing the boss's stapler). However, this is not the path of wisdom. Even if your boss behaves like a child himself, striking those around him with terry infantilism - this is not a reason to sink to his level! You must always be a professional! Learn to remain calm and dignified so that only your boss looks unprofessional in the event of a conflict, not yourself. - Your unprofessional behavior will badly affect you and your own career prospects. You don't want your coworkers to think badly of you just because your boss annoys you, do you?
5 Do not drive the wedge out with the wedge. If your boss is not in control, then perhaps the thought of answering in his own language will seem very sensible. Believe me, this is a delusion. Even if your boss is covering you with a seven-story mat, don't let your own emotions run wild (unless you're going to quit). Yes, on the one hand, if you express everything that is boiling, then it will become easier for you. However, in the long run, this will only cast a shadow on yourself. You need to preserve human dignity. - If you feel that self-control is about to deny you, then apologize and interrupt the conversation until you can control yourself again.
6 Focus on the problem, not the boss. If you focus on the person, and not on the problem, then you will translate everything into a personal plane, and this, alas, is a dead end. Do not be angry with your boss for being a person of controversial personal and moral qualities; you must try to solve the existing problem, whatever it may be. Think about how you can solve this problem - working both independently and together with the boss. - By focusing on the problem rather than on the behavior of your boss, your actions to improve the current situation will be more productive. If you do the opposite, then you will very quickly roll everything into the plane of clarifying personal relationships, and this will not help the business.
Part 3 of 3: Getting Started
1 Talk to your boss's supervisor. If the problem is really out of control, then it is best to discuss everything with someone who is above your boss in the hierarchy of the company. If you've tried everything, but nothing has helped, then the wisest decision is to report the problem to higher-level managers. Talk to your boss's supervisor about the problem. Make it clear that you are ready to work for the good of the company, but, alas, you cannot work with such a boss. Be as calm as possible, behave with the dignity of a professional, even if you have autumn in your heart. - Focus on productivity, not emotional issues. Don't complain about your boss being rude, but focus on things that are relevant to the job - for example, work plans are thwarted by communication problems with your boss.
- Of course, you shouldn't speak ill of your boss in the presence of a higher-level executive. You should be as tactful as possible when talking about problems. Don't say that your boss is "completely crazy" - say that your boss is constantly changing goals or not showing the necessary flexibility. Remember, you must behave in such a way that no one doubts your ability to work with other people.
2 Find yourself another mentor. Your leader is hardly the only person under whose wing you can work. If you want to keep your job, but you know that you will not work with your boss, then try to find someone in your company with whom you can work with. Having found such a person, work with him, learn from him, take an example from him. - If you and your mentor really work together, then perhaps he can give you advice or two on how to still establish a more or less decent working relationship with your boss. You certainly shouldn't throw mud at your boss to get advice on how to get things right. It is likely that your mentor has been working in the company longer than you, and therefore knows your boss better - so use this knowledge!
3 Ask to be transferred to another department. Another way to solve the problem of a boss you can't work with is to transfer to another department or department. If you want to stay with the company, discuss everything with the firm's executives and ask if they can find a better place for you. You may have a chance to start working in a new team led by a more understanding boss. - If before you had no complaints on this topic, and only your current boss turned out to be a person with whom you cannot work in any way, then do not worry - this will not affect you badly. Moreover, if you decide to take the initiative into your own hands and correct the situation for the better, then this will only be a plus for you.
4 If you are discriminated against, take more drastic action. If you are a victim of discrimination, contact any workers' rights service in your country. You see, some conflicts in the workplace sometimes transcend the law. Those who report violations of one nature or another are entitled to legal protection, and they also have the opportunity to seek justice bypassing what is called the “vertical of power”. - If the conflict is based on financial fraud, then special legal regulations may come into force requiring special actions from reporting violations, and so on. Read the laws of your country on this topic.
5 Consider quitting your job. If everything has gone so far that the only way out for you is dismissal, then look inside yourself and think about whether you will do the right thing if you quit. If the work environment hurts your health, self-esteem and dignity, if there is no way to improve the situation or transfer to another department, then, of course, dismissal is a healthy step. However, do not forget that finding a new job can be very, very difficult, especially these days. Be sure to consider whether it is worth quitting. - Of course, there is nothing stopping you from starting your job search before you quit. So, in fact, many do. This, by the way, is only for your benefit - if you work, then you have a clearer idea of the current market situation, which increases your chances of finding a job.
- Nevertheless, if the situation is very difficult, then even a difficult economic situation should not become a reason for you to stay at work and endure all this. Watch your patience, and when the last straw falls ... you know what to do.
6 Study the situation before changing jobs. Some people are so eager to free themselves from the oppression of a despotic boss that they are ready to take any job that is offered to them. Nevertheless, this way you can get out of the fire and into the fire! When getting a job, talk with your future colleagues, with your future manager and try to understand - are you changing an awl for soap? Even if you strive to quit your job as soon as possible, you will not help yourself if, when you quit, you face exactly the same problems. - When taking on a new job, throw away any misgivings about a new boss - this is the first step towards building a healthy and productive work environment.
Warnings
- Some offenses must be reported within the appropriate time frame. For example, if your boss is destroying nature, which causes your displeasure, then you have only 30 days to file a complaint (if you are in the United States). Sometimes these limits don't exceed ten days, so don't hesitate!
