When your boss is a jackass
It should come as no surprise to most people with even a little experience that giving someone a measure of power will sometimes go to their head. While this situation is easily handled in everyday and social settings – you just ignore the jerk – the issue is a little more problematic when that “jerk” is your boss.
Yes, for better or worse, your boss does have a moderate amount of power over your working day but that does not mean that they should be able to dictate your every waking action – especially when you are at home. How do deal with the situation? Here are just a few suggestions:
Take a Reasoned Approach – The first step in meeting the challenge of working for a difficult person is to determine if your boss actually has a legitimate gripe with your performance. Self-analysis is a difficult business so do some deep reflection on your own efforts and ask for feedback from someone you trust as to whether they feel you are underperforming or if the boss is just being overly critical.
Meet the Issue Head-On – You have undoubtedly heard this advice back in your elementary school days but it bears repeating, a bully shies away from a forceful character. Do not allow anyone, including your immediate supervisors, to simply run roughshod over you. Instead, you must gracefully take criticism but correct it if valid. Otherwise, make a forceful case for the aggression to end.
Document the Encounters – Once or even twice, you can safely ignore overly critical behavior but if the problem persists, it will probably be necessary to directly confront your boss or your career may suffer. Another path is to apprise the HR department of the situation. Although this choice may not make you many friends at the company, it is a totally legitimate course of action.
Expand Your Options – Sometimes, a person is simply not a good fit for a particular situation. A personality clash, getting off on the wrong foot – whatever the reason, you should always be prepared to do what is best for you. This means that “hanging on” in an untenable position should only be considered as a matter of last resort. Instead, start looking for another job. “Every exit is an entry somewhere else.” -Tom Stoppard
A Final Thought – A well-lived life is a tripod balanced between life, play and love. In short, your work life isn’t everything. Try focusing on your other lives – those with your friends and your loves. It just may make the situation a bit more bearable until you can find something better.
Other related articles:
5 Reasons the Boss MAKES his Employees Hate Him
5 Ways to Demonstrate Leadership in your Business
4 Vital Jobs Done by Great Managers
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