Unless you work for yourself, you don't get to choose your boss. Chances are that at some point in your life, you will have a boss that you might not get along with. Unfortunately, you might sometimes even get stuck with a downright bad boss. A bad boss may be anything from too passive to overbearing; the point is that a bad boss is just plain hard to work for. If you find yourself in this tough position, then there are some things you can do to ease the strain. Here are some tips for how to cope with working for a bad boss:
Be assertive. A bad boss can definitely put you on the defensive, and it may be your knee-jerk reaction to shrink away passively (out of confusion over how to best handle the situation), or even to act out aggressively (out of pride and/or anger). Your best bet is to be assertive. Maintain a strong composure and speak up for yourself in a non-accusatory way, when need be. The important thing is not to let your bad boss affect your behavior in a way that you won't feel good about.
Provide solutions. It may be that your bad boss is unorganized, absent minded, or a weak leader. If this is the case, you can help the situation by compensating. For example, if your boss seems to have a hard time keeping a schedule, then you may suggest a new scheduling software program at the next meeting. Just be careful not to step on any toes. This method could even get you some much-deserved attention (and advancement) in the office.
Talk to your boss. If you feel comfortable with you, you may be able to ease a lot of your bad boss troubles by addressing your issues directly with your boss. Tread lightly here, and be careful not to sound critical or accusatory. Simply explain that you would like to resolve some issues you have that you think would increase productivity in the workplace, and ask for your boss's help.
Report abuse to a higher authority. If your boss is a manager, and is in the habit of bullying or aggressive behavior, then you might be able to solve the problem altogether by filing a complaint with your boss's boss. Also, keep in mind that things like discrimination and sexual harassment are illegal in the workplace, which means that every boss - no matter how high up - must answer to that higher authority called the law.
Of course, it's not always possible to solve your bad boss problem. It may even come down to either grinning and bearing it, or just quitting your job and finding a new one. Whatever you do, consider these great tips first, and good luck.
About the Author: Bryon Cabrara works with human resources in office space New York and the surrounding areas. He helps mediate issues between higher and lower levels of management.