How To Deal With A Bad Boss Professionally

Knowing how to deal with a bad boss without exaggeration is one of the most sensitive and tedious qualities an employee must cultivate.

How bad does it get?

It is a susceptible situation because while you meet the draining expectations of your job, you also have to be in constant control of your emotions.

You do not want to undo all your hard work because of your bad boss, who does not see the effort you put in.

It is just like crying in the bedroom and showing a smiling face in public.

You should be able to see through your boss to know if he is acting up on purpose or unintentionally.

It will enable you to know how to act accordingly.

You do not want to lose a path vital to your career’s success.

Techniques On How To Deal With A Bad Boss

Different techniques will help you to deal with a bad boss professionally. Such techniques include:

Always Keep Comprehensive Records

To professionally deal with a bad boss, you must always keep comprehensive records. The record must be detailed, accurate, and straightforward to minimize any level of misunderstanding.

You do not want to provoke your boss with unclear or inaccurate records as he could easily blow you out of proportion.

Anything that puts you in a situation where you have to argue with him should be avoided.

Read also:   6 Steps To Detecting a Bad Boss Over Job Interviews

Try To Communicate

You can never underestimate the power of communication. However, you might be surprised how a simple dialogue can correct glitches in the relationship between you and your boss.

You can ask the manager how you can help them reach the goals they want to achieve and ensure you listen well and provide the needed assistance he requests

You can tell the manager what you need to be successful about guidance, feedback, and support.

Be modest and focused on your needs. You need to tell the manager exactly what you need from them. Telling a supervisor you are a bad manager. It is useless and will not help you achieve your goals.

These moves can put you in a favorable position with your bad boss.

Confide With A Trusted Superior Staff

Confiding with a trusted supervisor staff can help you professionally deal with a bad boss.

You’ll need to use good judgment as to when to take this approach and whether or not it will backfire on you. Most employees I speak with are more comfortable going to HR first.

It can be helpful to speak with a career coach or mentor to vent and seek advice and guidance on how to deal with a boss that’s making your work life difficult.

Someone outside of the situation might be able to give you a perspective that will allow you to deal with the scenario better or even look at it differently.

You can conduct an online search for career coaches to find local career and personal coaches who work sessions via phone.

It is best not to point fingers at your bad boss but rather speak about issues in general terms.

Have An ‘it is not forever’ Mentality.

Having an ‘it is not forever’ mentality gives you the psychological strength to deal with a bad boss professionally.

For many toxic leaders, the lure of more power, prestige, and control means they move positions frequently, so you may not need to deal with the toxicity for long.

While you wait them out, focus on developing your skills and network so you can find a new position if necessary.

Give Your Best Work In

Giving your best work is a proactive way to deal with a bad boss professionally. 

When you have a good reputation for getting your work done effectively and efficiently, you will eventually earn the trust of your bad boss.

It distracts him from putting a close eye on you. Consider going as far as you can to help your boss succeed, but that doesn’t mean you have to suck up to them. 

It will make you less of a target, and others will notice your professionalism despite poor leadership, and trust me, you won’t be the only one to see that.

Yes, you might help your boss appear better in the eyes of their superiors, and maybe they’ll even get promoted as a result. But if they get promoted away from you, that may not be such a bad thing.

Avoid Public Confrontations

Avoiding public confrontations is an intelligent way to deal with a bad Boss professionally.

You do not want to challenge your boss by going to war publicly. I assure you this is the shortest route to mental exasperation.

You should avoid doing this at all costs.

Read also:  How To Deal With A Difficult Boss

Keep Things Professional

Keeping things professional is an effective way to deal with a bad Boss professionally.

They may find this frustrating at first, but keeping things ‘strictly professional’ leaves them with little room to maneuver and get under your skin. 

Maintaining a safe emotional distance means insulating yourself from them by not letting their negative behaviors or actions negatively impact you.

At the same time, you continue to work professionally and functionally.

Work to treat them as just another aspect of your workplace, no worse than the printer that constantly jams or the terrible coffee from the vending machine.

Toxic people love to pull you into their drama. Please don’t fall for it.

Stay a safe emotional distance away from them. Be polite, honest, and straightforward. 

Avoid Gossip/Gossipers

Avoiding gossip/gossipers save your energy and are a proven way to deal with a bad boss professionally.

You do not want to be caught up when some of these gossip get to your bosses’ table.

To help keep your sanity intact, distance yourself from the source. That means seeing the toxic person as separate and distinct from you.

If your colleagues are negatively affected, you can lend support by offering an understanding ear, but make sure any discussions don’t devolve into negativity or personal attacks.

If you feel like there is a legitimate case for bullying, intimidation, or harassment, consider getting HR involved.

Speaking positively of others or at least resisting the temptation to speak negatively demonstrates emotional intelligence. If you do need to vent, do it outside the workplace.

Conclusion

Making a realistic decision about whether to stay or go is essential. If you feel trapped, realistically evaluate how severely the situation impacts you emotionally and mentally. 

If you decide to stay, it’s essential to develop some coping mechanisms to limit the effect of their behavior on your mental well-being by following the techniques mentioned above.