Bosses can be 5 types of crazy – here is how to deal with each of them!
“Ever wish your boss was dead?” This was the tagline of the Hollywood comedy Horrible Bosses that hit screens in 2011. It’s safe to say that any professional who has faced the wrath of a “crazy” boss relates to the movie in more than one way. The terms “bossemy” surfaced to describe such complicated workplace relationships that leave employees demoralised. Surveys show that 50 per cent of all professionals quit their jobs because of a “not-so-good” boss.
Working with a tough boss can be overwhelming at times. So here are a few pointers to help make that experience a little less painful.
When your boss micromanages you
No one likes a boss who is constantly checking in on your work and scrutinising it. If you are continuously subjected to such micromanagement, you can have stunted professional growth. Jean-François Manzoni, professor of management at INSEAD, says, “If you rebel against it, you will just get more of it.” The key to surviving this is making your boss trust you more. Trust is something which can be earned by keeping your boss in the loop about your work details and giving feedback when necessary.
When your boss expects the impossible
This is the case when your boss dumps a beast of a project or one with an impossible timeline, or both, into your lap. Although one might be tempted to say, “I can’t do it!” in order to shine through such situations, you have to get rid of the N-word from your lexicon. Establish priorities by reminding your boss of more immediate tasks that require your attention. One can also avoid such a situation by simply explaining why the project is so tough.
When your boss emails or calls after work hours
Your work life balance will be doomed if your boss constantly emails or calls you after work hours or when you are on leave. According to a new survey, 36 per cent workers get after-hours emails from their supervisors. One way to decrease this pressure is by delaying your reply. However, ignoring a call might have repercussions, especially if you are new to the company. Communication is the key to this problem. Letting your boss know of your strict unavailability or setting the boundaries right might help to some extent.
When your boss undermines you
Working with a boss who inspires you is a dream-come-true situation. If your boss fails to motivate you or worse, undermines you, the best possible thing to do is to figure out what drives you professionally and personally. This can be done by setting your own goals, by self-evaluation and by strategically planning for situations that may go haywire. Professional success can be achieved only with self-evaluation and critical assessment of your own work before relying on high-rankers.
When your boss is stretched too thin
There have been innumerable instances in which a superior just dumps his or her work on their subordinates. If you are a victim of this, communicate with your boss to make him empathise with your situation. Rather than simply agreeing at first and later regretting it, you should try to point out the amount of work that is already in your share.
Before being subjected to such atrocious work situations and ending up quitting your job, one should try all methods at hand to ease the situation. Communication is the key to any kind of conflict resolution and dealing with a crazy boss is no different.
(Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of YourStory.)