How to Deal with a Horrible Boss in a Professional Manner

Unfortunately, most of us will experience having a bad boss at one time or another. The question is not whether you will encounter a horrible boss in your career, but rather how to deal with a difficult boss when you have one. 

Does your boss show blatant favouritism? Are they a micromanager? Are they often absent or incompetent whenever they are around? There are many reasons a boss can be horrible, but at the end of the day, they are still your boss, and you are still an employee who needs to do the work.

How do you have a working relationship with a difficult boss?

While dealing with diverse personalities is a reality that comes with work, having a problematic boss most likely leads to a toxic work environment. A horrible boss can be a source of stress and anxiety at work. 

Sad to say, there is no easy solution for dealing with an awful boss. However, there are ways to manage the problem as best you can. Believe it or not, you can do things to improve the situation. The trick is to figure out which ones have the most significant potential to make things better instead of making things worse for your circumstances.

Here are some things you can try to make a bad situation a little better.

1. Figure out what makes your boss horrible.

Is your horrible boss intentionally horrible and unpleasant? Or is your boss perhaps oblivious to the fact that their actions are making them awful? If the answer is the first, then then your options are limited. But if your boss happens to be unintentionally horrible, then there may be some things you can do to improve the relationship.

Try to identify what drives you crazy about your boss so that you can more easily see whether or not anything can be changed. Once you pin down the root of your distress, try to understand why your boss acts a certain way. Perhaps knowing this gives you some insight and can help you understand why they manage you in this way. 

Assess your boss’ values. 

Everyone has a different management style. Assess your boss’ values to better understand what they are looking for. If your boss likes to micromanage, let them know precisely what you are working on and your next steps before they start asking. Knowing what your boss wants can help you be proactive and help you avoid having to deal with micromanagement.

2. Try to improve the situation.

Talk it out.  

It is not always impossible to objectively talk to a boss about an issue.  Just remember to speak constructively and avoid negativity or accusations. For example, if your boss keeps changing the scope of the project last minute, you want to ask them for advance notice when the direction of a project changes. Not only does this give you more time to prepare, but it also allows you to complete the task the way your boss wants it done.

Talk to HR.

This can be risky. However, in some cases, it can be effective. If you have a good relationship with another manager or Human Resources, you may be able to discuss the issue you have. Try to avoid complaining or speaking negatively about your boss as much as possible. Be as objective as you can when you share your concerns. 

Remember, though, that if your boss hears about this, you should be ready to explain why you went to HR. If it does happen, be calm and respectful when you explain yourself. 

What can you do if there is no change? 

If nothing you do makes it easier to deal with a difficult boss, here are some action steps you can do for yourself. 

3. Document everything.

If you can no longer trust your boss, try to document everything. For example, if your boss verbally asks you to do something and then denies asking you to do that later on, get everything in writing. Send an email after your boss verbally talks to you, confirming what you are asked to do. That way, if something comes up in the future, you have proof of what you have discussed. You should also document your own work to cover yourself if your boss questions your performance. 

4. Build a support system. 

If you really do have a horrible boss who does not recognise your value to the company, it is a good idea to have colleagues and other managers who acknowledge and value your work. Strengthen your work relationships with your colleagues. You do not have to air your frustrations about work to them, but at least you know that they support you. 

Outside the workplace, surround yourself with family and friends who will listen to you and encourage you to keep going when you are stressed or frustrated with your boss. If you think that your boss is harming your mental health, speak to a therapist so you can better process your thoughts. 

5. Learn what you can from it. 

If there is nothing you can do to improve things and you are not yet ready to quit your job, try to learn from the experience. See what transferable skills you can hone and develop, such as these three you can learn today. 

If you cannot pick up anything from experience, at the very least, you can learn what not to do when you are in your boss’ shoes someday.

6. Transfer to a different division. 

Change does not necessarily mean quitting your job. You can look at openings in other teams to see if the roles available interest you. Speak to your colleagues and ask questions about their work. Assess if your skillset fits there, then decide if you want to try and apply.

7. Explore job opportunities.

You should not have to tolerate a boss who insults, harasses, or genuinely makes your workplace miserable. Sometimes a horrible boss is simply not worth the stress and anxiety they cause. If nothing you have tried has helped improve the situation and you dread coming to work every day, you might want to start polishing up your resume and looking for other opportunities.  

Even if you do not intend to leave right away, it is a good idea to casually look for job opportunities to keep your options open in case things get worse. Set a timeline for yourself. Plan your exit and what needs to be completed if it is time for you to go. 

Summary

Work is not your whole life, but it does take up a good part of it. It should not be a continuous source of stress and anxiety. If you are ready to apply to other jobs, start looking for the #JobsThatMatter. Update your profile at JobStreet and find work that will bring you passion and purpose. 

Don’t forget to visit the Career Resources Hub for more expert tips and advice on building a career and how to improve it.