Most people have had one bad boss in their entire career. It can be difficult dealing with ineffective, perpetually angry, or indifferent leaders on a day to day basis, so people generally tend to avoid these types of bosses in the workplace.
However, there will come a time when employees will have to deal with their bosses sometimes, and it’s important to stay focused and professional as much as possible. Here are a few tips on how to deal with five kinds of toxic bosses.
The Unseen Boss
This type of manager is usually never around and doesn’t have your back when you need them the most. It’s likely that they have other priorities outside of work, and when it comes to the unseen boss, it’s best to multi-task and keep the rest of the team in the loop to keep things running smoothly in the company.
The Bully
This is the typical type of toxic boss that can be found in many offices. The bully takes great pleasure in intimidating, shouting, and humiliating employees, and everyone hates him because he uses his power to drive fear into people. If you have a bully boss, identify the things that trigger his temper and maintain your professionalism. Whatever you do, don’t cry—a show of weakness only empowers this type of bad boss.
The Micromanager
According to The Huffington Post, this type of boss has a fear of trusting people and will find ways to be involved in all aspects of your work. In contrast to the unseen boss, the micromanager is always around and hardly gives you breathing room to be creative. To deal with this type of boss, gently hint that you need some space to do what you need to do, and look for cues on what triggers his or her tendency to hover.
For instance, if your boss has a thing about cutting it too close to deadlines, then make sure to finish your project or work early. Eventually, your boss will cut you some slack and trust you to do your tasks by yourself.
The Inappropriate Boss
You know the type—he always makes off-color jokes that make you uncomfortable, makes racist or sexist comments, and has a problem keeping his hands to himself. To deal with this type of boss, it’s best to be blunt and tell him that his behavior makes you uncomfortable. If it happens again, consult your employee handbook to find out how to file complaints. Document all the instances of inappropriate behavior, including the date, time, and witnesses before filing the complaint.
The Immature Boss
While some might see this an advantage, this type of boss doesn’t seem to take his work seriously and his behavior can affect the whole company. If your boss is more interested in partying with you than discussing ways on how to improve your sales, or if he persuades you to take the day off to go drinking with him, then you’re better off having a responsible boss who will guide you in your career.
For more, check out Jobs & Hire’s report on signs that it’s time to start looking for a new job.
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