Blog 8: How to deal with a bad boss

Hi, my lovely Readers! 

Happy Monday! Today I wanted to talk about how to deal with a bad boss or a boss you may not agree with. It just happens that depending on how many jobs you work that you'll occasionally run into bosses you don't get along with. This can make the job more stressful and less fulfilling than it could be. You may be in one of these jobs right now and are trying to find a way to not dread going to work every day. Well, don't sweat it because I want to give you some tips about how to deal with bosses you don't agree with. In my previous work experience, I've had bosses who didn't have good leadership skills, so I was stuck being confused and feeling unmotivated half the time. I've also had bosses who were bad at delegating, so multiple employees would do the same task and be redundant or vice versa. In any case, bad bosses can come in many forms, but all can be frustrating. Below you'll see a few of my tips on how to deal with bosses you don't agree with. 

1. Be patient

    This may also sound frustrating, as you may feel you have been patient long enough, but being patient with a bad boss can allow you to seem calm and relaxed and keep your cool in stressful situations. Write a pros and cons list about telling your boss you're frustrated with them and analyze the list to see if it makes sense to voice your frustration. If it does, by all means, go ahead! Sometimes people don't realize how they impact others. However, more often than not, a lot of bad bosses are just having bad days or a bad week, and it's better and smarter to stay patient and wait for the stressful situation to blow over. You can also better collect your thoughts and figure out why you don't agree with your boss. Are they too political? Do they make you feel uncomfortable? What specifically is it that makes you frustrated with them? The sooner you find this out, the sooner you can think creatively about solutions to fix the problem. I've had a boss before that was too political, and I solved the problem by not bringing up politics around him, as it would make me more frustrated. In this case, I was patient and also thought through how I could make myself less frustrated in a productive way. Try it out and see if it works for you 

2. Do not be confrontational 

    This may also be hard depending on how much your boss frustrates you, but being confrontational with your boss will only make things worse. If you are going to voice your frustration, do it in a productive way, by offering alternatives or suggestions to their behaviors or choices that will hopefully benefit both of you. For example, if your boss's smoking habit frustrates you and causes a problem, approach them calmly and suggest an alternative time for their smoking break or suggest a different lunch break for yourself so you don't have to avoid the smell. In this example, you're showing politeness and consideration for your boss as well as yourself, and that will come across better in the long run 

3. Speak to others about your frustrations 

    I don't mean that it's a gossip-fest with your fellow employees. Instead talk to two people, someone you trust outside of work and a trusted coworker about your frustrations. Perhaps there is something actually there that is frustrating to others and not just yourself. Maybe it's just you and you need to curb your behavior. These conversations with others will help you to get outsiders' opinions on the situation and better understand your own thoughts. 

4. Be Respectful 

    Even if your boss is the meanest person on the planet, it won't be productive to disrespect them. In fact, disrespecting your boss will only make the situation worse, as they'll become frustrated at you. Even if your boss is a total idiot, or shouldn't even be there, they are your boss for a reason, and you should offer them respect nonetheless. This can add to your own frustration, but in the end, you'll look back on your frustrating situation and be grateful you were respectful to your superior. 

5. If things get really bad, go for help 

    Sometimes your boss is just someone who won't listen or can't be bothered about your complaints. If things get this bad and your boss is disrespecting you as an employee, contact your H.R. representative or another staff member to get someone else involved. There have been situations that have needed an outside party to help them move forward. If this does happen, remember to stay strong and know you're capable. Remember that you can always look for another job, or try to switch shifts to avoid your boss as well if things get really really bad. 

Hopefully, these tips will make your life a bit easier if you're dealing with a frustrating boss. The key with any boss, in general, is to have good and open communication, where both sides respect each other. If you have this, things shouldn't be as bad. 

Let me know if you have any other tips for how to deal with bosses you don't agree with. 

Until next time! 

Katie