Having a bad boss...and keeping them

I believe there are 4 mistakes that make people hate Monday.

If you follow me, you'll hear me speak of each of them from time to time.

Today, I want to focus on this 4th mistake because it's the most insidious and because it's affecting someone very close to me.

First of all, let's talk about the way I phrase this 4th mistake -- "having a bad boss and keeping them". I phrase it that way on purpose. The purpose is to call out that in the end, if you have a bad boss, it's on you to change it.

Look, organizations are going to make the wrong choice in whom they hire as a manager in the vast majority of cases. If you think I'm exaggerating, check out research done by the Gallup organization. According to this research, as many as 82% of current managers lack the talent needed to do a good job.

Knowing this, it's no surprise if you end up with a bad boss from time to time. Organizations are going to get it wrong and in a large proportion of those cases, we know they don't do much to make it right.

The reason for my phrasing on the 4th mistake then, is that when all is said and done, you can't depend on your organization to protect you from a bad manager. Nope, all you can do is take care of yourself. Sounds cynical, but if you've been there, you feel me.

You may be thinking, "Hold on, I didn't choose my boss, I had him thrust upon me." While this may be true, that you didn't choose your bad boss in the first place, you do continue to choose that bad boss every day in which you don't fire them in favor of yourself.

I know, easier said than done when so many people are a paycheck away from homelessness. The fact remains that if you have a bad boss and you keep them, it's ultimately your choice.

I just finished reading "Authentic" by Paul Van Doren the founder of Vans. He tells the story of a task he took on as a teenager at the company where he learned to make sneakers. He took on the special project outside his normal work responsibilities and on his own time for the agreed-upon price of $600. When he completed the work and presented it to his employer, he was offered a hat, rather than the money. He quit on the spot. The employer who was unarguably a bad boss had a change of heart, stopped Paul Van Doren and paid him the money.

That's an extreme example, but it might still be what you have to do.

Let's say you don't want to go the Paul Van Doren route, but still, need to fire your bad boss, what do you do then?

First, commit to yourself that you're going to fire this bad boss. Maybe not today, but give yourself a firm date as to when you will.

Second, ask yourself, "What are my resources for making this change?" What can you do yourself, what can your network do to help, what/who are all your helps for making this change ASAP?

Third, start taking action TODAY. Don't wait. Don't put it off until tomorrow because if you do, you'll have this bad boss one, two, ten years from now. Start by making a plan, doesn't have to be formal, just write down the major steps that will get you to a new boss with a timeline. For each major step break down the smaller steps associated with each one. Then start on the plan and work the plan every day.

Some of the steps may include:

• Reaching out to your network - calls, coffee, conversations
• Applying for positions every single day - make this your 20-hour-a-week side gig.
• Make sure you're getting good leads from your network and make sure you follow up on every single one of them.
• Practice interviewing. Get a buddy to help you and practice, practice, practice. If you don't have someone who can help you, record yourself answering questions with your smartphone and then WATCH the videos until they're no longer cringy to you.
• When you start interviewing, make sure you don't hire another bad boss by asking the right probing questions of your new hiring manager

It's time to take back your career and your life. Do not ruin your health over a bad boss. I hate to be so cynical, but in my experience, nothing fixes a truly bad boss but firing them. If your company's not going to do it, you have to.

If you want to join my Love Monday Just Like Friday movement, follow and like and subscribe at LoveMondayLikeFriday.com

Ryan Houmand?is the author of?“A Passion for Monday”. He's been featured on FOX, NBC, and CBS where he talks about "The 3 Mistakes that Make People Hate Monday" He's since added a 4th mistake and speaks at events and to organizations, about?“The 4 Mistakes that Make People Hate Monday”. He's available to speak to your team in person or via webinar. Ryan is the creator of?LoveMondayLikeFriday.com?and believes everyone should LOVE Monday just like Friday but for a different reason. He helps organizations with employee engagement turnarounds a subject on which he is an expert.?