It's a Monday morning, and Ayesha walks into work feeling anxious. She knows that her manager, Vikram, has a reputation for being overly demanding and critical, and she's worried about how he will react to her latest project.
As soon as Ayesha walks into the office, Vikram calls her into his cabin. "Ayesha, we need to talk about your project," he says sternly. "I expected better from you. This isn't up to our standards”. Ayesha feels her heart sink. She's spent weeks working on the project and thought she had done a good job. But now she feels like a failure.
Unfortunately, Ayesha's experience is all too common. Many employees have to deal with difficult managers who are overly critical, demanding, or controlling. But why do some managers behave this way, and how can employees deal with them?
Factors Behind Negative Management Styles
There are various factors that can contribute to negative management styles, such as:
- Lack of Emotional Intelligence: Some managers struggle to understand and manage their own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. This can lead to a domineering or demanding management style, as they may not know how to build rapport or motivate their team in a positive way.
- Pressure to Perform: In some cases, managers may feel intense pressure to deliver results or meet targets. This can cause them to become overly demanding or controlling, as they feel that they need to micromanage every aspect of their team's work in order to ensure success.
- Fear of Failure: Similarly, some managers may be afraid of failing or making mistakes. This fear can lead them to become overly cautious, perfectionistic, or critical of their team members. They may feel that they need to maintain tight control over their team's work in order to prevent any mistakes or missteps.
- Lack of Trust: If a manager doesn't trust their team members to do their job well, they may become overly controlling or demanding. They may feel that they need to supervise every aspect of their team's work in order to ensure that everything is done correctly.
Dealing with Difficult Managers
So, what can employees do when they have to deal with difficult managers? Here are some strategies:
- Communicate Effectively: It's important to communicate clearly and assertively with a difficult manager. Don't be afraid to speak up and share your perspective, but do so in a respectful and professional manner.
- Set Boundaries: If a manager is overly demanding or controlling, it's important to set boundaries and prioritize your own well-being. Don't let the manager's behaviour impact your mental health or work-life balance.
- Seek Support: If you're struggling to deal with a difficult manager, seek support from HR, a mentor, or a trusted colleague. It can be helpful to get an outside perspective and develop a plan for how to address the situation.
- Give Feedback: If you're a manager yourself, it's important to seek feedback regularly from your team members and make adjustments to your management style as needed. Building trust, empathy, and emotional intelligence can go a long way towards creating a positive and effective workplace culture.
In conclusion, dealing with difficult managers requires a nuanced understanding of the factors that may be driving their negative behaviour. It's not always easy to speak up or set boundaries with a manager, but employees can take steps to protect their well-being and seek support when needed. By promoting open communication, empathy, and trust, managers and employees can work together to create a healthier and more productive workplace culture. Ultimately, by recognizing and addressing negative management styles, organizations can foster a more positive and collaborative environment for everyone involved.
