Help, I Work For a Bad Boss!
14 October 2008, 9:30 am
Bad bosses are everywhere — hospitals, retail stores, Fortune 500 companies, factories, and schools. Most of us have had to deal with a bad boss at one time or another. A recent study involving 20,000 exit interviews found the number one reason people leave jobs is “poor supervisory behavior.” Unfortunately, sometimes we learn to be good bosses by working for really bad ones and learning what not to do. If you have the misfortune of working for a bad boss, here are six coping strategies to improve your work environment.
Keep up the good work. Take your eyes off the boss and put your focus on your job. Working for a bad boss does not give you an excuse to underperform. And don’t let your attitude slip either.
Document expectations. It is difficult to meet expectations if you don’t know what is required. When the boss assigns you a task, write down the exact instructions, repeat them back, and update them if anything changes.
Speak up. Tell your boss what you need in terms of direction, feedback, and support to be successful. But, before you do, remember RHIP — Rank Has Its Privileges. So, first find something you respect about the boss, so it doesn’t sound like a personal attack. Be polite. Tell your boss what resources, tools, information, and training you need to perform your job efficiently. Inform your boss if you encounter obstacles beyond your control as you try to do your job. And, finally, ask your boss what specifically you can do differently to be more successful.
Get a venting buddy. Find a trustworthy sounding board to vent your frustrations and anger, but don’t do it with your co-workers. Venting is therapeutic.
Write it out. Notice I did not say e-mail it out. Record incidents in a journal. Stick to the facts and how the boss’ actions impacted your performance or the rest of the team. This process alone may help to relieve your stress and help you cope. But, if you decide, at some point, to report your bad boss to HR, you have documented all the offenses.
Leave, as a last resort. A job that effects your health and mental well-being is not worth it. Be ready to stay, but always prepared to leave. Use your network to find better opportunities. Keep your resume up-to-date so you are ready to hit the ground running.
Bad bosses are really bad for business, but there is some good news. A 2001 Delta Road study found that 77% of employees surveyed said they would seriously consider staying in their current position if their bad boss made an honest attempt at changing.
“The best time to start thinking about your retirement is before the boss does.” — Anonymous
Cassandra Washington is a veteran trainer and proven coach who has helped countless men and women push their limits and expand their success. She is the author of the book, “How to Manage Unacceptable Employee Behavior.” To order your copy, visit http://www.exceedlearning.com/
(c) Copyright 2008 Cassandra Washington. All rights reserved.
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