Survive Your Manager and Thrive in Business

Don’t Let Your Boss Ruin Your Work Environment

By: Shelly Verma, Contributing Writer

Image Courtesy of: safetyconcepts.com.au

Sharing a good rapport with your coworkers and your boss is of utmost importance to keep your job and have a great working environment. It has been observed that employees who get along and are happy to work for their boss are more productive, but the issue is this might not always be the case since bosses can sometime make things really difficult for their team.

What should you do in such a situation?

Before trying to find a solution, it’s important to understand a few things. First, take up a job you like and never compromise on your preferences while choosing your career and your line of business. If you do, it will never make you happy. Second, understand that each day is a new day with new challenges and prepare yourself to face them. Third, and most important, your boss is your boss and you’ve got to accept that. When you can’t change that, change your tactics. Let’s take a look at how you can handle your boss positively.

Acceptance:

[pullquote]Accept your boss the way he or she is and keep doing your job, unless if his or her behaviour includes abusive language or creating trouble for you that damages your efforts or reputation.[/pullquote]It’s easier to sort out issues with coworkers since it can be very difficult when the boss is the issue. Some of the issues can be he may be too demanding or change plans suddenly. He may not be ready to wait till Monday morning for a job to be done, which means you sacrifice your weekend. Whatever the peculiarity, you need to follow orders and get the job done. Complaining about such events will get you nowhere. Accept your boss the way he or she is and keep doing your job, unless if his or her behaviour includes abusive language or creating trouble for you that damages your efforts or reputation. There’s no point in submitting to irrational behaviour even if the job is of your liking. Display your problem solving skills to let the boss know you are sincere and will bring results.

Have a Plan B ready:

Proactive behaviour is always appreciated. In case your plan does not immediately satisfy your boss, be ready with another option.  A good boss would want to evaluate your strategies and may point out drawbacks in your plan. He may be doing so in your interest. A mean boss, on the other hand, may enjoy nitpicking. If you’re worked up, he feels successful. But if you’re ready with another plan, it means you’ve done your homework. Skills of a good employer are rarely hidden and authorities’ superior to your boss will surely know the same. Management has its ways of gathering information. Avoid confrontation:

If you have a different opinion and your boss refuses to consider your viewpoint, say what you have to say and leave it at that. Avoid arguing too much. It will anger your boss, even if you share a good relationship. Usually, bosses don’t like to be confronted and would surely like to have the last word. It will be easier if you make your point at a later stage or a later date when the atmosphere is more relaxed or when you meet for appraisals.[pullquote]If you have a different opinion and your boss refuses to consider your viewpoint, say what you have to say and leave it at that. Avoid arguing too much.[/pullquote] Bosses who are interested in the progress of their team members will consider your opinion since appraisals involve higher level authorities. You may get a chance to explain yourself and indirectly reveal the irrational approach of your immediate boss, if that’s the way he normally behaves.

Document every detail:

It’s absolutely essential to keep records of every discussion, decisions taken, tasks allocated, strategies adopted, deadlines, etc. This way you’re able to maintain a clear stand on your actions. It makes it difficult for people to corner you, especially if your boss is a spoilsport and derives pleasure from seeing his subordinates in trouble. That may be his way of feeling superior and ensuring that no one challenges his statements. If you have verifiable, documented details, you can share them with higher authorities and expose your boss’s unhealthy policies.

It has been observed that people who are happy with their leaders have better health compared to others who are not excited about going to work or business the next day because they dread meeting their boss. Liking your job and your boss as your leader is important for your performance and your overall wellness.

When all is said and done, the most important aspect of your job is to Love It. If you don’t like what you’re doing, leave it. There’s no way you’ll be able to hold on to such a job for long. If you like your profession and still have issues because of your boss, learn to adapt and make things positive for your survival. It’s essential to not compromise on your self-respect and happiness by submitting to the whims and fancies of dominating authorities.

Shelly Verma is an avid small business writer touching on topics from insurance, health, higher education, career improvement, self-help to home improvement.