How To Deal With Difficult Boss: 15 [Brilliant] Strategies
If you have ever wondered how to deal with a difficult boss, this article is for you.
Bill Gates once said, “If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss. He has no position.” Employees and up to date graduates should take Bill Gates’ words carefully. Most of the time, we are all equally nervous and enthusiastic about getting a job.
However, employees normally don’t expect high levels of stress from a difficult boss once they’re hired. Prepare yourself because here are 15 tips for dealing with difficult bosses.
How to Deal with a Difficult Boss:
1. Be Assertive
Know your value as an employee. Do not tolerate being bullied by your superiors. Remain firm and remember your rights even if you must say “No” to your boss’s demands.
2. Stay focused
Many people apply and work because they’re motivated to accomplish their personal dreams and goals. Having a tough boss is possibly part of all the hardships and trials one will undergo to succeed. Stay focused and at all times remember to accomplish your goals.
3. Prevent arguments with your boss
As an employee, everybody expects you to act professionally at all times. This means that you must be objective in having a heated conversation with your boss.
It’s best to listen first and make your point in the most humble and respectful way possible. Remember that private issues don’t have any room in the workplace so make sure to avoid personal confrontation with your boss.
4. Learn from experience
Be open and understanding even if your boss at all times has a bad attitude towards you. Always put yourself in his shoes and analyze why you have a different standpoint on a particular issue.
Think of it as a learning experience because you can at all times pick up ideas from your boss that turn out to be the right ideas.
5. Know how to answer negative questions
Don’t lose your cool every time your boss criticizes your work or the way you work. Instead, answer your boss through negative questions. Asking him back in this way will make your boss think twice about his negative evaluation of you.
This is a way of clarifying so that both of you understand where the negative statement is coming from.
6. Prove your point by showing evidence
It is inevitable for a boss to blame his employees or scold employees for any reason. Present evidence in the form of positive evaluations or appraisals of your past work rather than pointing it back at your boss.
7. Always record your work
In line with tip no.6, this is your safety and weapon should your boss offer criticism about your persistence and performance at work. Save your work to also remind yourself of your accomplishments and hard work. You never know when you might need it for future success.
8. Develop positive relationships with other superiors
Having one difficult boss does not imply everybody in the company is as difficult as yours. Finding other good people at the company will help you develop positive relationships at work.
9. Seek support from the Human Resources Department
It is the duty of the Human Resources Department to make sure the welfare of the company’s employees. This is why you can count on this department to help you with your problems. Note that this step is risky, so be sure you are professional with it.
10. Anticipate your boss’s behavior
If you have been dealing with your boss for a long time, it is a good idea to anticipate their actions. This will help you be more rational in dealing with your boss during a bad situation at work.
11. Analyze yourself
Be objective in assessing yourself. Open to changes or slight adjustments to how you work. This may be the solution to have a good relationship with your boss.
12. Analyze your boss
If there does not appear to be anything wrong with you and your work performance, it is also a good idea to evaluate your boss’s behavior as well. Maybe your boss needs more understanding because of the stress.
He may have bigger problems inside or outside the company. You never know one day you may find out that he’s just responding to the stress he’s feeling right now.
13. Stay healthy
Trying to sort things out between you and your boss is actually stressful and demanding. Keep your physical, mental and emotional health in balance because at the end of the day, staying healthy and enjoying your work is essential.
14. Always ready
It’s best to take the bold decision to leave the company if all the consideration and understanding you have given your boss hasn’t worked out. An employee can only take on so much particularly if positive change seems unattainable.
15. Move forward positively
Even after all the bad experiences you have had with your boss, you should still show professionalism and respect for your boss and the company.
In this way, you can move on without holding a grudge against your former employer. Take everything as a learning experience. It won’t only make you confident but will certainly make you more positive. Who knows if you will be the boss one day?
At least now you have an idea of how to be a good boss for your prospective employees and associates.
I want to thank you for taking the time to read my article on how to deal with a difficult boss. I actually hope that its content has been of good help to you.