How to deal with a horrible boss

Posted August 19, 2015

If we want to know how our culture feels about the immense frustration that comes from working with an ill-intentioned boss, we can watch the movie Horrible Bosses featuring three guys who conspire to murder their horrible bosses in hilarious ways.

Source: lostingifs.tumblr.com

But the stress of a bad boss is no joke. In 2012, Inc. Magazine reported that three out of four employees surveyed said their bosses are the worst and most stressful part of their job; and 65% of employees say they would take a new boss over a pay raise.

So what can you do if you have a terrible boss? Here are a few tips that might help you regain your sanity at work.

Name the problem, and then stop perseverating. I always encourage my clients to “name their stress” because admitting out loud what is going on is a pathway to “solution-thinking” and broader perspectives. But naming your stress over and over is not helpful. If you keep talking about the same annoying habits of your bad boss, you will quickly train your brain to focus and notice only those habits—and your stress will increase. You also risk alienating your co-workers and family members if you continue to perseverate on the same thoughts and stories. Find a way to break that thought pattern—no matter how egregious the boss’s habits are.

Take time out to gain a bit of perspective. As for your boss’s behavior, while it may feel like it is directed toward you, in reality it may not be entirely about you at all. Pretend for a moment it is not about you. Take a few moments to step way, way back and try to mentally remove yourself from the scene for a moment. Now ask yourself some perspective questions like, “How did she get this way?” “Why might he behave in this manner?” “What else could be going on here?” Try to keep your sarcastic and cynical answers to a minimum, and answer more from a psychological perspective about what this person might be trying to accomplish—in spite of how ineffective they may be. Realizing that the person has never been the same since the merger or that he has had to overcome extenuating circumstances might help you to have more productive thoughts about how to handle your future interactions with your boss.

“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Proverb

Take time today to notice your verbal and written comments about others in your organization. Are you more of a compliments person verbally or more of a critical person?

Brenda Abdilla P.C.C.

Brenda Abdilla is a distinguished authority in leadership development and organizational excellence. With her vast experience and unwavering passion, she has become the foremost coach and facilitator, dedicated to enhancing the performance of teams and the effectiveness of leadership. As a highly sought-after executive leadership coach, Brenda specializes in working with leaders aiming to enhance their team engagement. Remarkably, over 90% of Brenda’s clients successfully tackle their core leadership challenges within just one year of partnering with her. Brenda’s approach is decidedly different. She brings a solid business-centric background to her work with leaders, entrepreneurs, and high-level career coaching clients. Brenda understands the pressure and uncertainty (VUCA) present in today’s business environment and empowers her clients to significantly improve their team communication, time management and efficiency, stress management, decision-making, critical thinking, and all of the elements of corporate visibility and success in their role.