Sometimes, a bad boss is simply a perception of his or her employees. This can be caused by even the smallest of differences with the boss – eating habits and preferences, the way they talk, the things they like, even the clothes they wear. In our culture, we have a tendency to nitpick on little details that don’t settle well with our personal standards, and this ignites friction between you and your “bad boss”.
Rather than focusing on the personality differences, you can focus on two key aspects that are important in a business relationship: Respect and Professionalism. Without these two key ingredients, a manager can be considered as ineffective and abusive, both of which are grounds for serious investigation of the manager’s performance. Professionalism calls for both you and your manager to cooperate in attaining the goals of the organization you are in. You can compare this relationship to a team climbing Mt. Everest; each team member has a role to play in that climb. Their goal is to be able to reach the top of Mt. Everest. In the same way, your company will provide targets for your team or department to achieve. Each one of you in the department has a role to play in achieving those targets, including your own manager. The interaction between your manager and you, both working towards the same goals despite however you may feel, is a mark of proper professionalism.
At the same time, professionalism also requires that respect be present. Your manager must be able to realize your value in the company, not just as a means to an end, but as a human being helping to cultivate the company’s growth. He must also respect the goals that he is working to achieve, by becoming a good role model for his employees. This can entail the manager to become more outgoing, sensitive to the needs of his employees and the organization, and pro-active. Insensitivity to your needs as a human being can be a sign of weak leadership in your team, requiring you to exert extra effort to fill in the gap.
Bad Bosses Do Exist
Not everything can be fixed by simply treating each other fairly. There are times when you can’t exactly pinpoint what your boss is doing so badly. Here are a few examples of bad boss behavior:
- Your boss does not follow the prescribed standards according to labor law, such as delayed or below minimum wage salaries, non-payment of your government mandated benefits, or disregarding the terms you agreed to in your employment contract.
- When your self-worth as an individual is undermined through harassing treatment. This can be done through discrimination or through inhumane working standards. Working for long hours without proper justification and compensation can be considered as inhumane working standards. Harassment need not be about racial discrimination, or sexual advances. Hostile behavior towards you, such as screaming or cursing, or actual bodily harm on your person is also considered as harassment.
Coping With Bad Bosses
When you are paired with an inefficient manager, your first option is usually to stay and try to cope with his behavior. If you decide to stay, take note of the bad behaviors that make you uncomfortable. This can help you determine if the problems between your boss and you is simply a personality difference, or is truly maltreatment.
Also, once you have determined the instances when you think you have been aggrieved, do your own investigation. Did your boss just come from a management meeting? You may have caught your manager at a bad time. Knowing a little bit about what is happening around the company, and the pressures on your own boss, can help you work on your manager-subordinate relationship a lot better. An employee who can see the big picture is a valued employee. Establish your own information network, and get a mentor in a different department. Seeing your boss’ situation in a new perspective may help you understand him better and adjust to his needs.
Do not be afraid to make suggestions, and to voice out your concerns. However, make sure that when you speak up, you approach the issue with your manager non-confrontationally, objectively, and in private. Tell your boss what you really feel, and the impact of his actions. Give him ideas on how to treat you better as well. Help your boss help you, and create a better working environment for you by leading through example – respecting his own worth by discussing personal problems with him in private.
If all of your efforts at having a better working relationship with your boss fail, take a look at other areas or departments in the company that may need your skills. Transferring departments may give you the working environment that is suitable for your person, and will take you away from an abusive work relationship. This, however, is not always possible. When your company cannot make use of your skills other than in your current department, and your relationship with your manager remains unsavory, you may want to consider looking for work elsewhere. However, if you decide to do this, be discreet, and maintain respect for your company’s operations. Schedule your job hunting activities so that it will not compromise your work output. Also, do not brandish the fact that you are looking for a new job. This may hurt your manager’s feelings, and cause more friction between you two.
The relationship between a manager and his subordinate is very important to the growth of a company. However, the responsibility to maintain this relationship does not lie solely on your manager. You are also responsible for that relationship. Remember that you can always take charge of your half of the bargain. You are never powerless to change your current situation, but you must learn how to compromise to get the best deal. Working towards win-win situations for both you and your manager will benefit not just the two of you but also others in the company. Learn to analyze the situation carefully before choosing your course of action. This may save you, and others, a lot of heartaches, and make for a smoother working lifestyle.
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