Source: Sympatico/Lifestyles

Dealing with a Difficult Boss



Everyone has their share of tough management at work.

At some point in our lives, it’s inevitable that we’ll have to deal with an employer who is less than stellar. Maybe it’s someone who lacks trust in you to complete your job, maybe it’s someone who overlooks your abilities or maybe they are just plain unpleasant. Whatever the case may be, it may seem impossible to deal with something like this. That’s not true. It’s all about being proactive in getting what you want out of a situation.

Attitude

The first thing to know about dealing with a tough boss situation is to pay attention to your attitude. Always look to yourself first and see if there is anything you could be doing better in order to improve relations with your boss. If you are vying to be project leader, see if you have been showing leadership qualities. Are you proving you’re a team member as well as a leader? Small things mean a lot to bosses, especially after a while. Have a positive attitude, encourage your peers in their problems and tasks, and through this, your boss will hopefully pick up that you’re a great asset to the team.

Keep Calm

When you have a problem with your boss, never, ever flip out. That’s one of the things that indicates you aren’t able to handle bad situations or diffuse problems. If you’re not getting a project you really want to take on, don’t go around badmouthing your boss to your colleagues and definitely don’t throw a fit. Being able to keep calm in these situations shows your self-restraint and self-discipline. Take a while to cool off first. This is probably one of the most important steps, because for many of us, our gut instinct after an altercation with a boss is not one of calming down.

Action Plan

After you get over the cooling off period, start on your action plan. Detail the steps you need to take in order to get your problem rectified, whether it is getting that project or just getting your boss to lay off you for awhile. Let’s say it’s the latter. You’ve been doing a good job at work, but it seems your boss is never satisfied. How can you address this problem without driving yourself crazy? Start by asking yourself if there’s anything you know you can improve on. Tell your boss about what you come up with, then ask him or her if there is anything specific they think you should keep in mind when doing your tasks.

This way, they must give you something concrete to go on. If it’s really just your boss’s attitude that isn’t pleasant, nicely bring it up to them and frame it in a positive light. Say you’re grateful to have opportunities in the company, but you would like some space to get your own footing, or that you would really like to see the project from start to finish. Give concrete examples as to why you think you should be the person in charge. The best are situational examples in which you’ve shown leadership qualities.

Talk to Colleagues

This doesn’t mean you should gossip to your colleagues about your problems, but it sometimes does help to talk to those you are closest to about strategies they use or different ways of coping with a tough boss. Don’t ever phrase these comments in a negative manner though, or put the blame on your boss. Instead, say you are feeling a little frustrated about not getting bigger assignments. Ask your colleague’s advice on how they do it, or if they know anyone who has some advice to give. Your colleagues are a great resource in this respect.

Talk to your Boss

Lastly, go straight to the source. Talk to your boss about what’s on your mind. Be willing to take criticism or even ask for it. If your boss sees you are willing to improve yourself, he or she may give you more work opportunities. Also, be willing to take on some not-so-great work, like long shifts or late hours, in order to ultimately get what you really want. After all, you have to prove yourself first in most workplaces.

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Just remember, it’s your actions that reflect you as a person in the company or workplace, so keep calm, rationalize with yourself and make sure you detail a plan for yourself about what to do in situations where you have to deal with a difficult boss. The important thing is to keep calm, so others can see you can handle being in a tough situation.