Here's how you can handle a challenging or toxic relationship with your boss while upholding professionalism.

To handle a challenging or toxic relationship with your boss while maintaining professionalism, focus on clear, respectful communication. Set boundaries to protect your well-being, and document interactions if needed. Seek to understand their perspective and find common ground to improve the working relationship. If the situation doesn’t improve, consider seeking advice from HR or a mentor for guidance on addressing the issue constructively. Prioritize your own mental health and professional growth throughout the process.

Dealing professionally with a challenging or toxic boss involves assessing the situation objectively, documenting interactions, and setting clear boundaries. Maintaining records, communicating your limits, remaining composed, and focusing on quality work performance are essential. Support can be obtained by discussing issues with HR, seeking a mentor, and ensuring regular communication check-ins with your boss. Should the workplace environment degrade, updating your resume, networking, and considering legal advice might be necessary. Above all, managing stress and prioritizing your health are essential, as well as engaging in self-care practices and seeking professional help.

I highly suggest you start by reading the book, The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn't by Stanford professor Robert I. Sutton. Next, you find a way to manage the stress you are experiencing, for example, exercise, mediate or take up a hobby that helps you disconnect from the toxic person and environment. Finally, when you have to be in the same space with your toxic boss, you must be respectful and be the light of reason that illuminates that dark work environment. Remember that FEAR stands for Face Everything And Rise and this too shall pass.

While working as a nurse I discovered the Certified Nursing Assistants were more responsive to patients when the CNA also had a mutually beneficial and respectful relationship with the nurses. No one being is an island and teamwork, while often said, is the building block to effective business relationships

Finding the aspects of the person that you can respect works. There is usually one or two things you can zoom in on to appreciate. Asking people who appreciated that person helped me as well so that I could gain greater perspective.

Dealing with a challenging or toxic boss can be stressful. Maintaining effectiveness in your communication is key. I have had success with the "situation, behavior, impact" approach. It goes like this: "When we are in this situation, and you do this thing, it impacts my work this way." Then simply be quiet and await their response. If they become aggressive or overly defensive, maintain your composure and return to the negative impact it is having on your work. Don't play the victim or blame it all on them; taking responsibility for any part you played is important. But any boss worth their weight should be able to adjust their behavior when a constituent is telling them that it is negatively impacting their work.

One of the major things that needs to happen in a toxic work environment is to reach out for support. The toxic environment will affect your mental health and being brave enough to seek help will help in all aspects of your life. Seeking help will give you strategies to help when the anxiety rises. If all else fails, look for another position. I know, easier said than done but you need to take an inventory of what your mental health is worth to you and your family. The toxic environment will not care if you leave as they will have your replacement within days. Toxicity doesn't make anyone or any workplace worth the time and effort.

I find the most important thing to do when working for a toxic boss, is to manage my own expectations. Most of my frustration has come when I continue wanting this boss to act differently, to act the way I wish they would, or think they should. Once I face the reality that this person will continue to act badly, I can make an informed choice about what else about this position is worthwhile. Takes me out of being a victim of the situation, and puts me back in charge of making my own decisions, either the use all the great advice above to try to mitigate the situation, or find a new place to share my talents. Ultimately, the only thing we can control is our own reactions to the situation.

One thing I found helpful is having a sit down conversation with your boss. What he/she expects from you. Let them know how they make you feel with their ongoing actions. Meet with them to throw everything on the table. Do it during a less hectic time of the day. During the end of the day. Schedule a meeting with them. I love to suggest a chew and chat. Maybe you can set up a lite lunch, get to know what you both expect from one another. Getting to know one another on a different level. Sometimes it can help. If that doesn’t work, I say seek all other options, as stated by others. Good record keeping, seek a mediator to resolve issues. Move forward to ensure your mental health, and growth within yourself in your career!