Tip #41: 3 Tips For Dealing With A Terrible Boss

April 17, 2009 2760 Comments2009-04-17+09%3A33%3A12Ben+Nash

At some point in your professional career you will have a manager who is so bad that they make it absolutely unbearable to go into work in the morning. It is almost inevitable. Whether is it is treating employees unfairly, favoring some employees over others, or simply creating an inhospitable, unfriendly work environment, poor managers abound. But fear not my friends, there is hope! Here are some tips for dealing with the worst boss in the world:

If things get too bad, just leave! This is a difficult decision, especially in an economy such as this one. But remember, if your boss is making your work environment a living nightmare, it’s not worth sticking it out. Many of us spend the vast majority of our time in the workplace – far more than we spend with our family and friends, unfortunately – so it is best to find work environment that will not damage your mental and physical well being every time you walk through the door.

Try not to take everything personally – this may be hard if the manager is truly vicious. If the manager is equally terrible to other employees, chances are there is something lacking in their personality, professional life, or maybe their personal life (who knows) and that is what drives them to take it out on their employees. Do your best to grow a thicker skin and leave the drama behind you.

Let ‘um have it – if you feel that you are being treated unfairly or treated poorly by your manager, let them know it. You don’t have to be rude or confrontational, but you should be firm and let them know that, regardless of their position within the organization, they do not have the right to be cruel and unprofessional. If the manager is unhappy with this conversation and continues the unnecessary mean spirited behavior, it may be time to alert a more senior supervisor (or HR) to what is going on. At the end of the day, people should not feel terrorized while on the job.