Tip Tuesday

How to Manage a Bad Boss
Many employees have to deal with bad bosses at one time or another during the course of their careers. Bad bosses may behave like bullies, yell at or insult employees, provide incomplete or confusing instructions to employees, fail to train employees properly or otherwise make it difficult for employees to perform their jobs well. Bad bosses can make work unpleasant and lead to excessive job stress. Managing a bad boss properly can minimize conflict and job stress.

Instructions

1. Ask your boss questions if you are not sure what tasks he wants you to complete or how he wants them done. Bad bosses sometimes provide unclear instructions and then get angry if employees don't do things correctly. Ask for clarification whenever needed. If you don't know how to perform a task correctly, ask for instructions. Ask for additional training if needed.
2. Ask your boss to prioritize tasks if he gives you a number of tasks to complete and you are not sure which ones he wants done first. Bad bosses sometimes give employees more tasks than they can reasonably complete within a given time period, or ask employees to begin new tasks before they've had time to complete previously assigned tasks. Make sure you understand which tasks your boss considers most important.
3. Talk about difficult issues with your boss when he is calm. If your boss gets angry, yells or acts like a bully, wait until he calms down to discuss the matter. If your boss insists on carrying on a conversation when he is angry and yelling, appeal to his desire to be heard; Leonard Felder, psychologist and author of "Does Someone at Work Treat You Badly?," suggests telling your boss that you want to hear what he's saying and asking him to please slow down so you can listen carefully.
4. Talk about difficult issues with your boss when you are calm. If you feel angry or want to say things that might make the situation worse, wait until you calm down to discuss the matter.
5. Set appropriate limits with your boss. For instance, if your boss seems to expect you to work overtime frequently without pay, politely let your boss know that you need to leave work on time but will deal with whatever tasks he wants done first thing in the morning.
6. Go over your boss's head for assistance dealing with problems only as a last resort. In severe cases, management should step in and deal with a problem boss. However, your boss may resent that and it may lead to a strained relationship with your boss in the future.