How to Deal with a Horrible Boss

Complaining about their job has become a national pastime for millions of Americans. Usually, most people blame their boss because leadership does trickle down throughout the workplace culture. While some bosses deserve to be the brunt of the complaints, by reevaluating the situation, you could stop a trip to the HR offices. But if things become unbearable, we have some tips just incase you need to report your boss to an official within the company.  

First, Put Yourself in Their Shoes 

The first step is to consider the external pressures your manager is under. Remember, most bad bosses are not bad people; they’re good people in a bad situation. Maybe the company is floundering or they are getting pressure from an outside source. It is important to consider not just how they act but why they are acting that way. Research has shown time and again that practicing empathy can be a game changer in difficult boss-subordinate relationships, and not just as a top-down phenomenon. Just think: If you work on empathizing with your boss, chances are he or she will start empathizing with you, which can refocus the mission back to a teamwork model.

What is Your Role Contributing? 

The second step is to look at yourself. This sounds tough, but by acknowledging that you might be doing something wrong, you might be able to save the relationship. Start with some introspection. Consider, as a constructive exercise, any criticisms your boss has offered. In what areas do you need to improve? What aspects of your behavior or output might bother him or her? Remember that we all can get triggered by our past, and they might not be mad at you but at a previous employee or manager.  

Organize and Utilize 

If you can’t improve things by changing your performance or opening lines of communication with your boss, and if your colleagues feel the same way you do, you should consider alerting HR and the boss’s bosses to the problem. A team is better than an army of one. You’ll need documented evidence of the boss’s harmful impact and improper behavior, such as witness statements and examples of communication that clearly breach company rules or HR guidelines. Remember that most states have laws protecting people from whistle blowing. 

If you are unable to change your relationship with your boss by taking the steps described, and if there isn’t potential for group action, then your options become more restricted. The better solution is to look for another job while you are still employed, exiting on your own terms. Having a bad boss is not your fault, but staying with one is all on you.