How to Cope with a Bad Boss
Work is difficult. Your work may be stressful and demanding and your co-workers may be a hassle as well, but the last problem you want is a difficult boss. Sadly, many people are forced to deal with a difficult person as a manager, but don’t worry, there are many ways to cope with a bad boss while surviving and thriving in your career.
If your boss micromanages you, let them micromanage a few assignments at first. Once they see that you are doing an excellent job, they will have no reason to keep this behavior up. If they do, then ask them what their reason is micromanaging? You have already proven that you do good work and are trustworthy with assignments given to you. If they continue to hassle you, then you have grounds to go above them with a complaint. If your boss is the head of the company, then turn to HR. If you keep track of specific incidents, you will have a better case against them. It’s also a very good idea that you are in meeting when your boss meets HR or their manager, so they are forced to deal with the specific incidents you list face to face with a mediator present.
If your boss just seems like an unhappy person, the best strategy is keep working and not let it affect you. If a point comes when you need help from your boss, state the situation plainly and say what you need from them plainly as well. If your boss in uncooperative, then again, head to HR or go above their head. This may seem petty, but it is the best way to deal with it, so that you are not bullied and your manager is not getting away with treating you badly. Also, when you report your problems to HR, the company is forced to take notice of how you are treated, so if a serious incident should ever arise where one of you may be fired, HR will have your maltreatment on file.
The worst-case scenario is when your boss is clearly out to get you. Whether you have offended them, outshined them or they just simply don’t like you, your job is in danger. In order to thwart their attempts to get you to lose your job, you must do everything right and show that they are out to get you for no reason. This means keeping track of how they have treated you unfairly and turning it over to their boss or HR. When your boss if your biggest problem, you probably can’t just have a talk with them to sort it out. You must go above their head and prove that because you are doing everything correctly, they have no reason to be treating you unfairly in any way.
Basically, when your boss becomes a problem that directly affects your work, it then becomes a matter of proving that they are hindering you at no fault of your own. It’s a sticky situation, because as your manager, your boss has more clout than you. That’s why you must do everything by the book and build up a case against them. It’s not fun and it involves more effort on your part, but it will pay off when a big issue or fight unfolds and you have HR reports on your side.
