Bad Boss - Managing Bad Bosses For Success

A bad boss is a nightmare. I know because I have had a couple of them in my career.

Bad bosses tend to be shallow. Those who are not shallow are perfectionists. Nothing you do is good enough. Others are bullies, petty, ridiculous, selfish, self-centered, and aggressive. Bosses with this kind of leadership styles make coming to work a huge burden. They make the workplace a living hell. Often, this category of bosses are callous, indifferent, or plain stupid.

They have a sit-tight mentality. Succession planning is not in their dictionary. They practice 'transferred aggression' management . . . caving in under pressure and taking it out on their subordinates.

The unfortunate part is . . . bad bosses are present in every industry, every organization. If you have not worked with this category of bosses, don't worry. Sooner or later, your time will come.

Bottom line.

Bad ineffective leadership by uncultured bosses is a stack reality. So, how do you deal with the situation if you're stuck with a terrible, annoying, irritating, and ungrateful boss?

You manage him.

What? Manage him?

Yes, you heard correctly . . . manage him.

Actually you have four options.

1. Manage him - study him, understand his weaknesses and develop a strategy to get the best from him

2. Quit your job

3. Inform the company's senior leadership team or your human resource team that you cannot work with him. Request a change of department.

4. Retaliate with harsh, unkind words. Call his bluff. Give fire for fire.

Option 2 is cool. At least when you quit your job you don't have to deal with his insults anymore. If you work in a kind economy, you may get another job soon enough.

But what if you run into another difficult tyrannical boss in the next job? Will you quit again?

Option 4 will get you quickly fired for insubordination and may mess up your career. No company has stomach for rude insubordinate employees.

Option 3 may get you a leverage. You may be able to get senior management team or HR team to listen to your plight and re-deploy you to another team. I hope you don't run into another difficult boss there.

Option 3 may be the way to go if you're being unfairly treated because of your colour, race, nationality, or religion. Or if you're being emotionally or psychological abused by your boss.

If no heinous crime (e.g. sexual harassment) is being committed against you by your boss, you may wish to stick to option 1.

The truth is . . . most bosses are less than perfect. It's difficult to find a boss who is everything you want in a boss. Leadership management is a tough job and most leaders are poorly kitted for it.

So, understanding your boss . . . his mindset, his perception on issues, his attitude to work, his fears, his personal ambition . . . can go a long way in building that all-important bridge to his heart.

Remember . . . bosses are also humans. Some bosses are afraid of losing their jobs.

Most bad bosses are driven by fear of losing their relevance in the organization. So, when they see a young, vibrant, intelligent superstar . . . YOU . . . they shiver inside. They are afraid you may rock the boat, take them out of their comfort zone, and ruin their chances for self-perpetuation.

So, to survive their assault and enhance your career, be smart. Catch them using their greatest weakness.

Study your boss, understand him or her. Show him you support his agenda. Put forth earnest effort to make him succeed while staying ethically sound. Build a storehouse of emotional intelligence with him.

Sooner or later, you will loosen the tension. Then you can begin to get the result you seek.

Managing your boss is the greatest task in the workplace. You can succeed at it if you apply wisdom.

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