Learn How to Deal with a Terrible Boss
Karin Lindner
Mindset and Executive Coach for People in the Manufacturing Industry, Author, Speaker, Workshop & Webinar Facilitator, Mental Strength Trainer, NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) Master Practitioner
Happy Monday!
Recently I have received quite a few messages on how to deal with a terrible boss. You ask, I answer.
Have you ever heard the saying, “A fish rots from the head down”??
That’s true. Unfortunately, I cannot change your boss and neither can you.
There are always 2 sides to every story.
Are you interested to learn a mental strategy that will work in your favour? You have to find out?what matters to YOUR boss.?That’s the power of influence.Shift your energy and think about him/her?and not about what you are going through. Otherwise, this can be easily seen as whining and complaining.?
What does he/she care about??Numbers, productivity, health & safety… What else??
Speak in these terms. We will lose a lot of money when….. My team and I lose our productivity when….
What may he/she be afraid of??Trying something new, taking risks, losing money, losing business, non-compliance with the law… What else??
This means that YOU have to?think ahead?about how to minimize risk and communicate it properly. This is an “intra”preneur mindset and in most cases, this will help you to establish a good rapport with your boss.?
There are 3 choices you have:
Let’s explore how you can create AMAZING energy for yourself and the people around you.?
Here is what I recommend:
1. Be assertive and stand up for yourself:?
For instance, “I don’t appreciate how you speak to me” or “Why are you so angry?” You don’t have to take this crap. If you don’t do anything about it, it will encourage the same behaviour from this person over and over again. Bullies like people who are easy victims.??
2. Physiology (Body Language):
Make sure to have good posture, stand straight – anything that makes you feel more powerful works (fear is physical – you feel it somewhere in your body and changing your physiology works);
3. Beliefs:
You have to make sure to write down some positive beliefs about yourself or this kind of behaviour can take a toll on your self-confidence. For example: I have important knowledge to share (find your own statements but here are?possible affirmations?to get you started). Can you make the time to read them out loud every day? The morning is the best time (car, bathroom, short walk).
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4. Focus:
What if you focus more on the things that you can control and that are within your influence? Stop talking about what other people should do. This will definitely keep your energy high and positive.
5. Internal Language:
What is the little voice saying in your head? Maybe it says, “This guy is an idiot”. Reframe it in your mind and find a different association such as:
You have to find a way to keep your energy positive and this can do the trick. How does being upset help you?
Bullies slow down the company’s results. If they are bosses, it makes it even worse.?
I bet you any money that the ones who can be categorized under “terrible bosses” have never thought about that. Too bad, so sad!
If you think this action plan is a good start, I would love to hear from you.?
Now go and start practicing!
Food for Thought:
You may find this article interesting as well:
You can also watch my most recent video: You Are Fired!
If you think it is about time to explore what coaching is all about, schedule a?call?and see if coaching is right for you.
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Sales/Marketing/ Manufacturing Management with a Industrial/Mechanical Engineering Professional
2 年If you have a terrible boss...just research him/her and establish that they are former losers in executive positions before their current one. If they have this history of browbeating and treating every problem like it is a "people" problem instead of researching its true cause, then you have two decisions: 1. Get the heck out of Dodge before you become a victim before the manager's failure to achieve results gets THEM fired or 2. Create a formal and written copy of the expectations of your position performance and get it signed off so you have legal basis to contest unworthy job termination. Also, look this bully in the eye and force a conversation that is face-to-face and formalized. If there are awkward silent moments during this conversation exchange, don't relent and fill the space with defensive comments. Share any discomfort with this individual, but respectfully. If you survive the interval of corporate organization before a new boss relationship, then you are betting on a less toxic relationship with a new boss while you are trying for success in your work goals and achievements...if the culture has already been irreparably harmed by the bully causing key performers to already leave...then plan your own exit...
Machinist,Tool Maker
2 年Try this satire from back in about 1998... its a great read. I handed my former boss a copy of it back in 2017. And they replace him with a guy I called Sarge.. reference Beatle Bailey cartons
Results-Oriented Project Manager | Transforming Ideas into Branding and Marketing Success
2 年Absolutely LOVE this article. Options for wherever your comfort level is currently. Relevant action items. Karin is spot on with her suggestions and has helped me advance my career and elevated my mental health strength with thoughtful suggestions like these.
Owner/President at CEK Consulting
2 年Get to know your boss's boss or your boss's boss's boss. If you have a lousy boss, that is the fault of your boss's boss and/or your boss's boss's boss. If those upper-level bosses are not sympathetic, then you are in a dysfunctional organization with a very bad culture. You can either continue to suffer or leave. Better yet, join or form a union to oust the bad bosses or to extract remediation. If your coworkers are not sympathetic and willing to join you, that is another indication of your being in the wrong organization for you.